Melbourne, Australia – Flashtalking, the global independent platform for ad management by omnichannel ad platform Mediaocean, has announced two new appointments to boost its team in JAPAC.
The new hires include Michael Serratore, the new account director for JAPAC, and Jay Smith, the new sales director for JAPAC – with both based in Melbourne, Australia.
Serratore was most recently the business director at Wavemaker ANZ, where he worked with brands such as Jetstar and Hungry Jacks, driving projects involving data management platforms (DMPs), dynamic creative, and analytics platforms. Taking the lead on cross-market digital transformation, he played a pivotal role in helping the company move towards its global business objectives and worked with key agency contacts across APAC.
As the new account director, Serratore will be leading and nurturing brand and agency partnerships across JAPAC. His long-standing history working with Flashtalking from the media agency side positions him well to act as a trusted advisor to clients, providing insight and expertise on digital strategy and guidance on how to utilise the platform to connect advertisers with consumers through personalised ad experiences as part of omnichannel advertising campaigns. Serratore will also enable clients to make data-informed decisions across their media investments that drive greater engagement with audiences and better business outcomes.
Commenting on his appointment, Serratore said that he is thrilled to be joining Mediaocean this year as Melbourne takes strides to fully reopen once again.
“I’m looking forward to working with new clients, and using my knowledge coupled with Mediaocean’s industry-leading Flashtalking technology to provide them with creative-first, data-driven advertising solutions,” he added.
Meanwhile, Smith joins from MiQ Digital, where he was the sales director, and was critical in helping the business expand into additional regions across Australia. He also opened the MiQ Digital Melbourne office just over four years ago. Smith has played a key role in positioning the company as a trusted partner in the programmatic landscape, and winning new clients including Bega, Metricon, and Disney.
In his new role of sales director, Smith will work closely with advertisers, agencies, and ad tech partners to boost sales, ensure ad spend is being directed effectively, and increase operational efficiency across JAPAC. He will also be responsible for driving revenue through strategic solutions for clients and agencies using Flashtalking’s advanced analytics.
Smith commented that he is delighted to be joining such an industry leader in omnichannel solutions, including cookieless identity solutions, ad verification, and advanced analytics.
“I’m looking forward to working with exciting brands who are looking for unbiased media measurement and control of their own data, and to deliver more for their marketing dollars,” he said.
Georgia Brammer, the regional director for JAPAC at Flashtalking by Mediaocean, said, “I’m thrilled to welcome Michael and Jay on board in the launch of our Melbourne presence and further enhance our renowned team in JAPAC. We’re excited for our clients and wider team to benefit from their expertise in the digital advertising landscape.”
