Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 9)

As more and more media moves to a digital format, the role of digital advertising firms will continue to increase. Firms which have hybrid experience, who truly understand brand management and are able to capitalize on online efficiency (buy more ad space for fewer dollars) are going to excel. AKQA will be an interesting firm

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Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 8)

Here we get a bit philosophical about the reason behind some of the industry regulation problems, and the pressures applied from the major players. Nonethelss, here is a new trend in advertising, one that is based on algorithms and mathematics, and the older schmoozing oriented models will be forced to adapt. SM: So you think

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Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 7)

With the recent trend of private equity deals and acquisitions of advertising firms, the industry is truly on fire. This is the perfect opportunity for Tom to either take his company public or sell for a substantial amount. SM: Have you had offers already for an acquisition? TB: No. SM: In the future, in terms

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Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 6)

AKQA had taken funding from Francisco Partners originally, and is now generating $100M in revenue annually. Francisco recently exited the business, and sold their shares to General Atlantic Partners. This happens right at the time when the online advertising market is heating up in a big way. SM: Your new investor is General Atlantic Partners?

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Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 5)

AKQA built differentiated expertise in doing interactive campaigns for a global market, including extensive localization, a strategy that spells foresight and vision. SM: Specializing in global campaigns seems to have been a good move, but could have been risky. Did it work out for you? TB: That expertise has paid off in the last couple

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Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 4)

AKQA is a company that was built largely during the Dotcom crash era. SM: Of the firms you talked to, who ultimately made the investment? You were doing an ad agency roll-up, right? TB: Francisco Partners made an investment in our business which was a hybrid online / offline venture at that point. We acquired

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Microsoft’s Next Move: A Roll-Up?

Microsoft has finally got its hands on an Ad Network. With its aQuantive acquisition, however, Microsoft has got something else: a portfolio of great interactive ad agencies, including Avenue A/ Razorfish. An interesting, offbeat, but smart move for Microsoft could be to proactively roll-up a large chunk of the online advertising space, which will force

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Comcast: Growth Through Convergence

Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator in the United States and one of the leading communications and entertainment companies in the world focusing on broadband communications and content. In this segment, we will evaluate how Comcast is leveraging the evolving convergence phenomenon in its growth strategy.