Magnite Reveals Australian Leadership Team Following Rubicon Project And Telaria Merger

Magnite, the merged company of Telaria and Rubicon Project, today announced James Young has been appointed as Managing Director for Australia, where he will be responsible for growing the business in the country.

James held the role of general manager for Telaria in Australia prior to the merger of Telaria and Rubicon Project, where he strengthened the company’s position in-market through strategic collaborations with partners and excellent client guidance. Previously he was commercialisation director at Guardian News & Media and head of advertising with eBay.

Juliette Stead will lead the business across Asia Pacific and Japan as head of JAPAC, with 20 years of experience in media and ad tech and a proven record of driving results in the region.

Additionally, James Brown has been named head of international, overseeing EMEA and JAPAC. Rohan Creasey will assume the role of director, solutions engineering international, to lead custom client integrations across EMEA and JAPAC.

Magnite and its experienced Australia SSP team offers the industry its unbiased publisher-focused technology to support the monetisation of BVOD, the fastest growing advertising medium in the country, and all other formats including mobile, desktop display, and audio.

“As the eminent advertising platform for leading Australian broadcasters and premium omnichannel publishers, Magnite will continue to provide excellent client service and advanced programmatic technology to help our clients succeed. There are still many challenges and opportunities to be addressed in our industry and we are focused on being the independent partner that sellers and buyers can trust to have their best interest at heart,” said Magnite managing director for Australia James Young.

Magnite head of JAPAC Juliette Stead commented: “Magnite’s combined expertise across all digital ad formats makes Magnite a strong omnichannel technology partner that premium publishers can count on. We have a highly experienced team in Australia to address the diverse and unique opportunities and challenges that publishers face.  As an independent technology provider, with no DSP or content bias, Magnite continues to be focused on the needs of our clients and their long-term success.  Our focus on full transparency ensures they completely trust that we act in their best interest.”

The Australian digital advertising industry continues to grow, with the most recently released IAB Australia PwC Online Advertising Expenditure Report finding that programmatic buying accounted for more than 56 per cent of all video inventory and 43 per cent of general inventory in the first quarter of 2020.  ThinkTV also reported in June 2020 that BVOD viewership had remained high with consumption up 26 per cent compared to pre COVID-19 lockdown.

Partners comment on the launch of Magnite

Nick Young, Director of Sales of  Digital & Publishing at Nine Entertainment, commented: “The amalgamation of Telaria and Rubicon combines two of the premier SSPs in the market into a unified force whose individual teams, products and expertise complement each other perfectly. Partnering up was a smart strategic move from both businesses, allowing them to participate, compete and lead within the programmatic landscape for many years to come. Nine is excited about developing our partnership with the new enterprise as it creates its new identity.”

Luke Smith, Head of Programmatic Sales & Audiences at Seven West Media, said: “The launch of Magnite is a great opportunity for the media industry and especially for us here at Seven West Media. As Australia’s leading integrated media company, our need for an independent adtech partner to help us monetise inventory across all our formats and devices is critical to the success of our digital advertising business. Magnite is focused on driving the best outcomes for premium publishers in Australia and we are looking forward to continuing our relationship with James and the team to drive a consolidated strategy across our network.”

Jonathan Mandel, Head of Digital Commercial at SCA, said: “I’m excited to finally see the marriage of Rubicon Project and Telaria from both a technology and people perspective – they both have some of the best programmatic people in the market. As an audio-first publisher, our partnership with Magnite is integral to the growth and success of SCA and SoundCloud across audio streaming & podcasting, video and display.”

Sophie Hicks-Lloyd, Director of Digital Sales at Network Ten, said: “In today’s multi-screen environment, engaging sight, sound and motion can be achieved through multiple digital means and we at 10 have seen tremendous interest from consumers and advertisers alike in exploring different formats. That is why it is incredibly important to work with technology partners who have mastered omnichannel ad experiences and Magnite hits all these areas from live streaming BVOD to mobile to audio. We look forward to continued collaboration to reach new heights in digital advertising.”

Mitch Waters, Senior Vice President of Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand at The Trade Desk, said: “As a long-standing partner of both Telaria and Rubicon Project, The Trade Desk is excited about the opportunities and value that a global independent SSP such as Magnite will bring to the APAC region. Our mission is to help brands deliver a more impactful ad experience to their consumers. We believe Telaria and Rubicon Project’s combined expertise and technology will greatly benefit both our business and the success of our clients.”