RTL Group Creates International Ad Sales Champion
RTL Group has created a new international ad sales champion. The new entity consists of RTL Ad Connect, G+J IMS and Smartclip’s media division. It offers advertisers national and international cross-media campaigns from a single source. Stéphane Coruble will serve as CEO of the new unit; Oliver Vesper has been appointed as Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and Deputy CEO.
RTL Group is combining its fully-owned businesses RTL Ad Connect, G+J IMS and the media division of Smartclip to create an international advertising sales champion. The new unit, whose name has yet to be determined, will provide international advertisers simplified access to a unique portfolio of media brands across TV, digital video, radio/audio, online, mobile and print. Its portfolio will comprise RTL Group’s TV channels, streaming services, radio stations and digital publishing brands, complemented by the advertising inventory of high-quality partners such as ITV in the U.K., RAI in Italy, NBC Universal in the United States, and DPG in Belgium.
The combination of RTL Ad Connect, G+J iMS and Smartclip’s media division is in line with the three priorities of RTL Group’s strategy: core, growth, and alliances & partnerships. The new unit will be uniquely positioned to fully seize the significant growth opportunities that result from the increased demand from advertisers and agencies for global ad-buying opportunities, cross-media offers and high reach in brand-safe environments. It will be the only European sales house that can offer advertisers such international cross-media campaigns out of one hand. In addition, the new unit will closely cooperate with RTL Group’s ad-tech services provided by Yospace and the ad-tech division of Smartclip.
250 employees in 13 countries
Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL Group, says: “In the growing competition with the global tech platforms, new alliances and partnerships between European media companies have become increasingly important. With our new international ad sales unit, we will create a leading monetization platform that combines scale, transparency, and easy access to state-of-the-art advertising technology. RTL Ad Connect, G+J iMS and Smartclip’s media division have strong market positions and complement each other perfectly in terms of skills, clients, services, and geographical footprint. Our new monetization platform will be open for all broadcasters and publishers seeking an innovative, customer-friendly alternative to the global tech platforms. I wish Stéphane Coruble, Oliver Vesper and the teams all the best and great success in their new roles.” Stéphane Coruble, currently CEO of RTL Ad Connect, will lead RTL Group’s new international advertising sales unit as CEO. In this capacity he will report to Matthias Dang, who will become the Chairman of the new unit’s Board, in addition to his role as Co-CEO of RTL Deutschland. Oliver Vesper, currently Co-CEO of Smartclip, will become Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and Deputy CEO of the new unit.
Daniel Bischoff, in addition to his current role as Chief Marketing & Operations Officer of RTL Ad Connect, will lead the new unit’s Transformation Office, facilitating workstreams and securing information flow to drive the integration of RTL Ad Connect, G+J IMS and the media division of Smartclip. André Freiheit, currently Executive Director of G+J IMS, will leave the company by mutual consent. He will advise and support the new unit’s Transformation Office until the end of June 2022.
RTL Group’s new international ad sales unit will employ around 250 people in 13 countries, with offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, Gütersloh, Hamburg, Helsinki, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, New York, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna, and Zurich. The new unit’s portfolio will comprise the advertising inventory of more than 150 TV broadcasters, 47 radio stations and 800 digital publishers.
