Moves – 02.06.11

KEO Digital, the digital arm of production company KEO Films, has appointed Joanna Haslam as senior multi-platform producer, as part of a strategic push to integrate its TV production and digital offerings. She’ll work closely with director and producer Will Anderson and KEO Digital’s MD Nick Underhill. Haslam was previously online editor for Channel 4 series Seven Days and has acted as a consultant for independent digital production companies Calabash Films and Naked and Social.

What attracted you to this role?

A key component of my role will be the development of cross-platform projects working with both the digital and TV teams. This will not be without its challenges but I’m looking forward to taking it on. Cross-platform-driven content – seeing people online getting involved, having an opinion or making a difference – can be an incredibly valuable and visible component within a TV programme. Prior to this role I worked as a freelancer and tended to be involved in individual projects on a relatively short-term basis. I’m excited to be taking on a role where I can not only work on projects from conception to delivery, but help influence the growth of KEO digital as a company.

What will your responsibilities be in your new job?

As well as working with the TV development department to lend digital input into ideas, I’ll be involved in getting purely cross-platform projects commissioned. These could be funded by working with non-broadcast commercial partners or by developing projects with self-serving business models. I’ll then take the lead on the initial project scoping, planning and scheduling.
On a day-to-day basis, I’ll manage external suppliers and subcontractors, such as games and mobile companies. I’ll also work with internal designers, developers and producers and I will continue to work as the online project lead for Fish Fight, overseeing the digital campaign in Europe. We’ve launched sites in eleven EU countries and will be rolling out high-profile activity specifically in four of these countries over the next 12-18 months.

What project are you most proud of in your previous job and why?

I’ve previously freelanced for the BBC, Channel 4 and Endemol. My last project prior to starting at KEO was as the online editor for Channel 4 and Studio Lambert’s production Seven Days. There was criticism around the show but conceptually, from a multiplatform perspective, it was an innovative project. To see characters within the weekly TV programme directly reacting and changing their behaviour as a result of real-time comments from the audience was a first for Channel 4. We also worked to continue the story during the week between transmission via Twitter and Facebook, and created ‘ChatNav’. Working for a broadcaster and a production company who placed online at the heart of the programme was an excellent experience.

What do you think are the most exciting developments in the industry at the moment?

With the opening of Channel 4’s Convergence Fund, the broadcaster has set out new commitments to digital and TV convergence innovations, and further opportunities for exciting opportunities undoubtedly lie ahead. This is a direct result of the emergence of YouView and other similar IPTV platforms, which will also create new realms for convergence possibilities in the coming months or, potentially, years.

The big area of change will be in how video or TV broadcast can work with advertisers or brands as part of the IPTV connected generation. The floodgates have been opened for brand-funded content/programmes on commercial channels, such as Channel 4, and I believe that more of this will follow in the next year or so. To be watching a television programme and have the potential to immediately to find out where you can buy the clothes a character is wearing or the car that they are driving, and then view real-time conversations about this, via instant messenger, Twitter or Facebook, is surely an exciting concept for advertisers.

Other moves

Digital and production agency ClickTag has bolstered its team with four appointments. RodrigoPereira joins as technical lead to head the agency’s technical division. He was lead Flash developer at creative agency DLKW Lowe. Agata Jewko and Jo Charalambous have joined ClickTag as digital developer and junior product manager respectively. Jewko was previously a developer at The Good Agency and Charalambous was account executive at The Nice Agency. Lastly, former designer at Dare Digital Nadeem Daniel joins as creative lead.

Integrated marketing agency Madhouse Associates has recruited Martin Smith as digital operations manager. He was previously at marketing agency CheethamBell JWT where he was digital development manager.

Online fundraising platform JustGiving has appointed Romain Bertrand to the new role of marketing head. He’ll report to MD Anne-Marie Huby and joins from online digital photo service Photobox where he was head of acquisitions and partnerships.

Mobile app store GetJar has recruited Joe Molnar as senior VP of engineering. He was previously at Microsoft where he was partner architect in its Interactive Entertainment Business division.

Simone Barratt has been promoted to the new role of president of GSI Global Marketing Services International, following ten years as MD of e-Dialog International, an integrated digital marketing provider within the GSI Commerce Marketing Services division.

Oliver Smith has joined social video platform Unruly Media as its UK commercial director. He previously held a similar role at video technology platform Kyte.

Digital and direct agency network Proximity London has hired Chris Slough as deputy MD. He’ll report to CEO Mike Dodds and work closely with Proximity Worldwide to grow the business across Europe. Slough joins from Ogilvy One where he held the same role.

Recruitment agency Dynamic New Alliances has appointed Dave McGowan as client services consultant and Mark Chalmers as digital consultant. Both were senior account managers at recruitment specialist Ecom.

Search management platform Marin Software has hired Ali Sezgin as account director and Joe Southin to lead its analytics offering in Europe. Sezgin was head of account management for eSearchVision and Southin was head of EU search marketing at AOL.