Terry Semel Steps Aside, New Horizon in Sight?

Yahoo’s future suddenly looks brighter, as Terry Semel steps aside, and Co-Founder Jerry Yang takes back the reins. Semel, a former Hollywood executive who joined Yahoo in 2001, will remain chairman in a non-executive role. Yahoo also expanded the duties of Susan Decker, who was earlier named the head of the company’s advertising business, and

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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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Gen Y & Edutainment

I wrote a piece called Affluenza about 2 years back, discussing the spending habits of Generation Y, and the opportunity that might present for Edutainment products. Generation Y has since evolved to become a very important marketing target, especially because they are hugely reachable. Gen Y is the largest generation in U.S. history. There are

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Effective Management Techniques

You have read Dominique’ article, Top Ten, on an effective management technique from the Steve Jobs school. Do you have such well-honed and highly effective management techniques that you would like to share? Here are a couple I received from the network:

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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Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 3)

After spending some time in New York, Tom moved back to San Francisco with an itch for the technology industry. SM: Where was your J Walter Thompson job located? TB: It was based out of San Francisco. I had just gotten married and my wife and I moved back to San Francisco in 1984. As

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