Brand Advance Group starts the new year with a raft of strategic hires across its EMEA and North American Business. Founder Christopher Kenna takes the helm in the USA as CEO North America whilst Deborah Gbadamosi makes the move from leading Unilever at Mindshare to taking the helm as CEO EMEA at Brand Advance Group working alongside Dean Evans the Managing Director at Brand Advance SSP and Shane Macrory & Vicki McGowan Managing Partners of Cultural Intelligence using her experience to blend all parts of the business into a 360 offering for Agencies and Brands globally.
Brand Advance Group helps Brands & Agencies to reach underrepresented consumers using technology enabled Creative Tech, Data & Insight Tech & AdTech // CTV // Prog. OOH.
I’m beyond delighted to join Brand Advance Group and lead the next chapter of growth. Christopher and his team have built an incredible business rooted in inclusion, not just in the planning of media and creative, but in the way they operate, hire, partner and behave. I plan on bringing my experience in nurturing a strong performing team and understanding of client needs to continue shaping and defining Brand Advance Group. The aim is to keep our business at the forefront of change. I’ve had the pleasure of working with progressive media leaders, as well as forward thinking clients and partners who embraced the need for systemic change. It’s positively impacted the way we approach inclusive audiences, brand safety, representation and measurable outcomes. I’m keen to keep collaborating with these open-minded humans, because we still have a long way to go. With Chris in the US and me in the UK, we’ll ensure Brand Advance Group continues to challenge the status quo, forge new partnerships and bring about wide-spread diverse and inclusive advertising solutions and practices
In the last 12 months leading up to Deborah Gbadmosi appointment, Brand Advance Group of Companies has expanded across the UK, France, Germany, India, Canada and the US with an equally impressive revenue growth: 2021 to 2022 YoY was 330% with a forecast 300% growth YE 2023.
The Brand Advance Group now provides global clients a full 360 service for reaching Minority or Underrepresented consumers – helping brands and agencies to break the 10% growth barrier with access through technology reaching global communities and their consumer spend.
Brand Advance SSP (Supply Side Platform) has expanded into CTV and a Programmatic Out of Home (HeatMap), using triggers from engagement of readers within communities and what content they are engaged in used to trigger out of home campaigns in the area.
BA Creative has had a fantastic year since its launch. With Year 1 including new client billings wins of $10 Million and the global growth of the BA Creative, BA Films and Brand Advance Influencer Teams.
Their data and insights companies DECiA and Cultural Intelligence chase continued to Innovate and provide clients with access to global insights and Media Planning, Buying and Strategy tools specifically aimed at increasing Agency Teams access to minority communities for their clients.
Our BA Publishing owned and operated media has expanded with GayStarNews and Included Mag alongside expansion into the US market with African American title GenB USA and Hispanic American title GenHX Mag.
Founder and CEO North America Christopher Kenna closed on these thoughts on both the growth and appointments.
2022 WAS A FANTASTIC YEAR FOR US WITH OUR REVENUE AND NEW CLIENT BILLINGS RISING FROM $5M TO $16M, AND A FORECAST $28M IN CLIENT BILLINGS By THE END OF 2023. Although, fantastic news not just for us as a business but also for our network of Minority Owned and Operated partners globally – this growth has also come with a need to develop personally for me as a Founder, striving to become a leader and for the growth of the global teams. Deborah Gbadamosi joining our team is a large part of this growth being someone I have admired within the industry with qualities I hope to learn of from. I’m excited to have Deborah and a raft of fantastic hires join our leadership team and help Drive our target of $100m revenue by YEAR 2025. My fulltime move to NYC to lead our North American operations could not have been possible without the knowledge that EMEA was being left in such capable hands. I look forward to the year ahead and developing both personalLy and long side our fantastic team.’
