Business Development and Experience Added to Board of Leading Interactive Video Advertising Technology Company
San Jose – blurbIQ Inc., the leader in interactive gamification of video across the digital marketing spectrum, announced that Michael Hirshoren who previously ran US ad sales for Rhythm NewMedia has joined the company Board of Directors and that Jack Hallahan, Vice President of Innovations for Mojiva Inc. has become an advisor to the company.
Other Board members for blurbIQ – whose patent pending interactive video advertising platform allows advertisers and publishers to use game mechanics to drive consumers to interact with their video messaging to remember brands at the point of purchase – include: Dan Stubbs, Director of Business Development at Johnson & Johnson; Todd Bates, Managing Partner at international IP law firm Hilborne Hawkin & Co.; Kimberly Smithson Slaveski, Vice President of Risk and Control at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and BlurbIQ’s CEO Scott Reese, and CTO Drew Spencer.
“blurbIQ has gotten extraordinary traction in the marketplace already, partnering with top technology and ad networks to help brands assure their video messages are both delivered and understood,” says Mr. Hirshoren. “I am pleased to join the Board at a moment of tremendous acceleration.”
“Michael and Jack have fantastic track records with decades of experience developing traditional and digital strategies for Fortune 500 brands,” says Mr. Reese, the company’s CEO. “We will take advantage of it as we grow blurbIQ.”
Mr. Hirshoren previously ran US ad sales for Rhythm NewMedia, driving the company’s US digital strategy and content relationships while focusing on deepening brand connections with mobile consumers. Rhythm has served billons of video, display and rich media ads on behalf of the world’s largest brands including P&G, GM, Verizon, HBO, Marriott, Kraft, Disney and over 200 others in 2010 alone becoming the largest mobile video ad network.
Since 2003 and prior to joining Rhythm NewMedia, Mr. Hirshoren was a director with AOL Media Networks where he managed executive relationships with top clients through integrated online and offline advertising programs. He was part of the team that helped AOL navigate the difficult transition from subscription model to a successful advertising driven business.
Prior to AOL Media Networks, Mr. Hirshoren was vice president for Salon.com from 1998 to 2003 where he directed all sales efforts for the eastern United States and helped Salon achieve a successful IPO.
Mr. Hirshoren was a pioneer in online advertising holding various management positions at Ogilvy & Mather and Y&R’s Wunderman Cato Johnson. He was part of Ogilvy & Mather’s first digital media team and holds an Effie for his work with IBM.
Mr. Hirshoren started his career in the international marketing department of United Parcel Service (UPS).
Jack Hallahan, heading up All Things Rich Media for Mojiva, travels the globe offering best practices and creative solutions for mobile advertisers. He launched Mojiva’s Mobile Creative Alliance, an influential consortium of mobile creative and technology providers helping advance Mobile Rich Media.
Before he joined Mojiva Mr. Hallahan ran Tap Mobile, a consultancy, where he was instrumental in launching start-up social news platform Blancspot. His marketing insights and savvy helped earn Blancspot App of the Week and a #2 Ranking behind CNN on Apple iTunes Store. Mr. Hallahan offered critical guidance and launch strategies for emerging digital platforms including QR Code Innovator JagTag, Travel App MondoWindow, Social App Get Me Rated, Music Fan App New York Rock Exchange, and Best Buy-backed consumer tech advisory App Tecca.
In 2005 Mr. Hallahan helped launch the first mobile television ad platform as VP, Advertising for MobiTV. Spearheading new product and technology innovations, team building, and partnerships, he steered major brands into mobile, including BMW, AXE, Jeep, Intel, Anheuser-Busch, HP, Visa USA, Daimler-Chrysler, Navy, and Nikon.
Mr. Hallahan is a recognized expert in cross-platform integration from years working with brand owners and agencies, including industry leaders Chiat/Day, AKQA, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health and Young & Rubicam. During this time, he was responsible for over $200 million in advertising campaigns.
blurbIQ (http://www.blurbiq.com ) is the leader in interactive gamification of video across the digital marketing spectrum. The patent pending technology overlays video with brand and trivia questions as the video streams. blurbIQ turns video commercials into interactive “games” that dramatically increases viewer engagements, video completion rates, and ad retention. These interactive video units are distributed as pre-roll, in banner, mobile, tablet, and social media advertising units. blurbIQ provides quick time analytics dashboards so brands can measure every interaction with their video content like never before. Since launching in July of 2010 blurbIQ has acquired key accounts such as E*Trade, Duracell, Church & Dwight and General Motors.
