Rocket Fuel Names Former Salesforce.com and Microsoft Executive Randy Wootton as CEO
Programmatic Marketing Platform Rocket Fuel, has named Randy Wootton as its new chief executive officer.
Wootton joined Rocket Fuel in March as chief revenue officer and will replace Monte Zweben, who has been acting as interim CEO since March.
The Rocket Fuel board of directors selected Wootton based on his proven ability to drive growth and scale at some of the world’s most admired multi-billion dollar global technology companies, deep experience in SaaS, intimate knowledge of the advertising industry, and exceptional leadership skills. Wootton has also joined Rocket Fuel’s board of directors.
“Randy has been a change agent from the start, expanding our pipeline, invigorating our direct sales approach, inspiring cross-functional teams with his executional rigor, and actively contributing to the development of our strategy. He has been my close partner in the day-to-day work of transforming Rocket Fuel,” Zweben said.
“As we evaluated qualified candidates, the executive search committee witnessed Randy’s tremendous contributions and electric leadership style. His enthusiasm for our business is infectious, and he truly inspires Rocket Fuelers throughout the company to engage with our mission and execute.”
Key considerations for the search committee were finding a candidate with a track record of scaling up businesses, extensive knowledge of SaaS, and a deep understanding of the advertising industry.
Wootton brings the added benefit of working closely on Rocket Fuel’s transformation efforts since joining the company in March. He was a key contributor in developing the company’s strategic plan and has led the implementation of a new sales model and sales methodology. Wootton is already ramped and ready to execute against business goals.
“I am excited to take on this challenge and am inspired by the Board’s confidence in me,” Wootton said. “I believe deeply in the hard work we’ve done to improve and expand our relationships with agencies and their holding companies, grow our direct-to-marketer sales, and shift to a SaaS model by leveraging our platform investments.”
“The worldwide digital ad spend is expected to reach $143 billion in 2020, and I believe we can capture a bigger share of that market opportunity given the power and exceptional value of Rocket Fuel’s technology and talent. We still have a lot of work to do as we make this shift, reinforce our foundation, and prepare for future growth. Our strategy is solid — now it’s time to focus and execute.”
Prior to joining Rocket Fuel, Wootton scaled Salesforce.com’s Customer Success Product Portfolio P&L from under $200 million to almost $500 million in three years by overhauling the product management, marketing, and sales-enablement strategies for that company’s Success Services Product Portfolio.
Previously, at Microsoft, he led cross-functional operations for the Global Search Services and Online Marketplace where he was instrumental in operationalizing Microsoft’s “Search Alliance” agreement with Yahoo! for the small and medium sized space. Wootton also was SVP at AdReady, a cloud platform company for display advertising, and he ran aQuantive’s AtlasDMT’s international division.
With Wootton’s transition to CEO, Zweben will become executive chairman. He will focus on building an ecosystem of strategic partnerships, continue to offer support on product development initiatives and contribute his expertise in Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. George John will resign from the company and step down from Rocket Fuel’s Board of Directors. Dr. John plans to join a venture capital firm as an executive in residence to explore new opportunities in Artificial Intelligence. He will also mentor an entrepreneurship class at Stanford University, his alma mater.
Latest News
DDB Remedy Launches New Campaign Heart Foundation Campaign ‘Saving Hearts’
The Heart Foundation’s new campaign – Saving Hearts – is a poignant reminder of what heart disease takes away from families while reminding the community that investing in research brings improved outcomes for survivors and their families. Created by DDB Group’s specialist healthcare agency, DDB Remedy, Saving Hearts captures the reality of the life-long impact […]
CHE Proximity Snares Justin Ruben Back From New York For ECD Role
CHEP has announced the appointment of Justin Ruben as executive creative director, returning from a six-year stint in New York at Droga5 and The&Partnership New York. Leading the team in Sydney, Ruben’s creative talent will complement CHEP’s senior creative leadership team, led by Gavin McLeod, chief creative officer and Glen Dickson, deputy chief creative officer. […]
Kathmandu Hosts Urban Zipline Event In Partnership With Beyond Blue
Nothing says the outdoors like the Kathmandu brand. Although it readily fails to mention the chances of bear attack.
Victoria’s Secret To No Longer Call Ambassadors ‘Angels’ As Part Of Major Rebrand
In bad news for perverts everywhere, knickers brand Victoria's Secret is shifting its marketing out of 1972.
Evian Uses Ronaldo’s $5.2 Billion “Drink Water” Stunt In Own Marketing
Nothing screams "wanker" quite like an Evian water, does it? Admittedly, a well-hydrated wanker.
Verizon Media Academy Ends For 2021 With Youth Charity Pitch-Off
Verizon Media’s talent program has come to an end for the third year, closing with a hybrid pitch-off event for Musicians Making A Difference (MMAD). The Verizon Media Academy class of 2021, made up of 44 emerging leaders from across Australia and New Zealand media, advertising and marketing industry, were given just one hour to […]
Facebook To Expand Transparency Around Political And Social Issue Ads In Australia
Facebook to expand transparency around political & social issue ads. Mark still refusing to crack a smile, however.
Industry’s Gamers Unite For UnLtd’s Virtual Rocket League Comp
Social purpose organisation UnLtd’s Big Games competition has raised a combined $85,000 for children and young people at risk. Running over five weeks, the competition involved 32 teams from across the advertising, marketing and media industries battling it out virtually for a chance to qualify for the Rocket League final. The tournament culminated in a […]
Sam Worthington And Phoebe Tonkin To Star In New Stan Original Film ‘Transfusion’
Stan has announced that the Stan Original Film Transfusion commenced filming in Sydney earlier this week and will premiere on Stan in 2022. Transfusion is a taut, muscular thriller starring Sam Worthington (Avatar) as Ryan Logan, a former Special Forces operative, who is battling to cope with life after the loss of his wife and is thrust […]
Tommy Hilfiger’s Former Global CMO Joins Celebrity Cruises
This has all the hallmarks of an episode of The Love Boat, sans one of Issac's daiquiris and an unwanted STI.
COVID-19 Saw Stock Imagery Return To Harmful Gender Stereotypes
According to a decade of data collected by iStock, Australian brands turned to imagery depicting outdated gender stereotypes during the pandemic. Tracking the keyword ‘women’, iStock by Getty Images found that in 2020, ANZ brands and businesses reverted to gender stereotypes. Images of mothers home-schooling were used at almost twice the rate of images of […]
DEADLINE WARNING: Entries For Best Of The Best Awards Close Next Friday!
Consider this our FINAL WARNING about Best of the Best entries. Well, at least until we remind you again next week.
“Mike Hunt, Hugh Janus & Mike Oxlong!” Right Wing Broadcaster Gets Pranked By Its Own Viewers
B&T warns this comes with a number of puerile schoolboy jokes. You'll possibly get afternoon detention just reading it.
Saatchi & Saatchi Appoints Georgia Jones As Melbourne GM
Big news out of Melbourne today. A new GM for Saatchi & Saatchii & someone spotted in Flinders Street not wearing black.
Maddison Connaughton Ends Time As Editor Of The Saturday Paper
Schwartz Media is congratulating Maddison Connaughton on her three years as editor of The Saturday Paper. Connaughton has decided to finish up her editorship this month. “It’s been an honour to edit the paper,” Connaughton said. “The Saturday Paper is one of the brightest voices in Australian media and I have been happy to see […]
Australian Geographic And Tourism Australia Partner For Special Edition, ‘Australia’s Quiet Places’
Australian Geographic unveils 'Quiet Places' edition, with shelving pingas up The Goldie failing to rate a mention.
Thursday TV Wrap: Two-Minute Noodle Challenge Sees MasterChef Top Entertainment, But Seven Takes The Night
Two-minute noodles the star of last night's MasterChef. Yet, strangely doesn't see a spike in uni student viewership.
Carat Hires Oliver Carthy As Head Of Digital
Oliver Carthy appointed Carat's new head of digital and unofficial de-jammer of paper jams in office copier.
New Research Names Olivia Rodrigo And BTS The Most Popular Study Music
Research from EdBbirdie using Spotify data has identified the most popular songs to study to. After analysing thousands of studying and homework playlists on Spotify, American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘drivers license’ came out as top song to study to. It featured on 48 study playlists, while other top songs included ‘Ophelia’ by The Lumineers, ‘Falling’ […]
Noel Gallagher Wants To Sell Oasis’ Back Catalogue For $367M So The Songs Can Be Used In “McDonald’s Adverts”
Oasis want to sell their back catalogue to advertisers. To be fair, you'd pick up their last few albums pretty cheap.
Major New Sponsors Named For Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior, Including KFC, ALDI And Bendigo Bank
B&T only watches Ninja Warrior for the agility, the sheer athleticism and the raunchy pervability.
Cannes Lions Announces 2021 Awards Entry Numbers Before Launch Of Virtual Event
Sadly, once again there's no trip to France again this year. Still, spare a thought for Cannes' rude & surly shopkeeps.
Building A Successful Remote Marketing Team
Dayna Stewart is the Business Director – Digital Marketing, Media & Creative Services at The Nudge Group. Here, she discusses the challenges that come with building a successful marketing team when working remotely. Before COVID-19 changed the way businesses work, most marketing teams spent their days together in a meeting room collaborating on the next […]
Australia’s The Kid LAROI Joins Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo And More In iHeartRadio Festival Line-Up
The line-up for the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Festival has been announced as the legendary event returns live in Las Vegas in September. This year, the epic two-day lineup for the iHeartRadio Music Festival main stage will feature performances by Billie Eilish, Cheap Trick, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Florida Georgia Line, Journey, Khalid, Lil Baby, Maroon 5, Nelly, […]
From Intern To Chief Of Staff In Five Years: Atlassian’s Helen Xue Shares Her Three Pillars For Professional Development
Why fall backwards into the arms of colleagues to improve career development when there's this concussion-free read.
Shop! ANZ Calls On Industry To Participate In ANZ Shopper And Retail Marketing Industry Survey
Shop! ANZ is calling on shopper and retail marketing professionals from all retail related disciplines to participate in the first ANZ Shopper and Retail Marketing Industry Survey in four years. This important research provides a guide of where the retail marketing industry in Australia and New Zealand has come from and what is anticipated to […]
How To Align A Marketing Strategy With Customers’ Shifting Perspectives
Do you just want to throttle indecisive customers? This important read will calm the nerves & save you from a gaol term.
Woolies’ Cartology Announces New Appointments
Woolies' retail media business unveils new appointments. B&T notes it also has a good deal on Tim Tams at the moment.
WPP’s Chief People Officer Lisa Sheehan Latest To Depart
The broom continues to go through WPP's local operations. Yet, not where it's most needed - the dusty skirting boards.
Akcelo Launches Innovative Game Experience Platform For Tribeca Festival
Akcelo has launched an innovative gaming experience to showcase Tribeca’s Official Selections and celebrate the inaugural Tribeca Games Award at this year’s Tribeca Festival.
