Australia – Retail media technology provider Kevel has expanded its operations into Australia as part of its broader Asia-Pacific (APAC) growth strategy, announcing the appointment of Chris Woodworth as regional director for APAC.
The move comes as retail and commerce media across Australia and the wider region transition from early experimentation to a more execution-focused phase. Retailers and commerce partners are increasingly reassessing the infrastructure required to scale media programs with greater consistency, transparency, and long-term control.
“As retail media matures, success increasingly depends on execution, operational rigor, and the ability to scale without sacrificing flexibility,” said Jaclyn Nix, chief operating officer at Kevel. “Across Australia and APAC, brands and platforms are navigating fragmented ecosystems, inconsistent standards, and a growing number of retail media networks. Demand is rising for strategic partners that provide control, consistency, and measurable performance. Investing in dedicated regional leadership reflects our commitment to helping businesses move beyond experimentation and build sustainable, future-proof commerce media platforms.”
Based in Australia, Woodworth will oversee Kevel’s commercial strategy across both Australia and the broader APAC region. He will work closely with customers and partners to support growth and the development of differentiated commerce media platforms designed for fast-evolving and complex market conditions. The company said the appointment builds on its existing customer success and technical support teams already operating in the region.
Woodworth brings experience in commercial growth, partnerships, and go-to-market strategy across digital, media, and technology businesses in Australia and the wider APAC market. In his role, he will focus on expanding Kevel’s regional presence, supporting customer success initiatives, and developing strategic partnerships across retail, marketplace, and emerging commerce platforms.
“Across Australia and the whole of APAC, we are seeing some of the most dynamic and diverse commerce markets in the world,” said Chris. “Businesses here don’t want one-size-fits-all ad products; they want control, flexibility, and the ability to innovate on their own terms. Kevel’s API-first approach is uniquely suited to this environment, and I’m excited to help retailers and brands move beyond experimentation to build scalable, performance-driven commerce media platforms designed for the next phase of growth.”
Australia and the wider APAC region continue to rank among the fastest-growing digital and commerce media markets globally, supported by a mobile-first consumer base, expanding e-commerce ecosystems, and the growth of large digital platforms such as TikTok/Douyin, Lazada, and Shopee.
Industry forecasts indicate that retail and commerce media advertising tied to first-party data, transaction signals, and consumer intent will see sustained growth across Southeast Asia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Australia over the coming decade. As retailers, brands, marketplaces, and platforms increasingly seek to monetise first-party data closer to the point of purchase, demand for flexible and scalable advertising infrastructure is rising.
Kevel currently supports commerce media businesses across the region, managing multi-million-dollar retail media revenue streams in localised and complex markets. The company said that its investment in regional leadership, support, and developer resources is intended to help customers innovate and scale more efficiently. With Woodworth based in Australia and an expanding APAC team, Kevel aims to establish itself as a long-term partner for businesses across Australia and the wider region.
