Richard Thompson has been appointed CEO of the Kiwi Premium Advertising Exchange (KPEX). The exchange launched at the end of last year as a new local advertising service in a joint partnership between Fairfax Media, MediaWorks, NZME and TVNZ.
Thompson will take over from consulting CEO Duncan Arthur in mid-April. Currently a partner at full-service agency Contagion, he has led relationships with Tourism New Zealand, including global partnerships with Facebook and Google over his four years at the company.
Prior to Contagion, Thompson worked at Starcom MediaVest Group, Total Media New Zealand, Universal McCann and Endemol. He has held senior digital roles in London, Europe and New Zealand and been involved in business for MSN, Xbox and Bacardi.
With KPEX indicating the importance of programmatic for digitally traded media, the board's spokesperson Robert Hutchinson says Thompson has been brought on board to build the digital team.
“KPEX has performed ahead of expectations in its first three months of operation. Buyers have responded positively to having a New Zealand-based, brand safe, highly liquid exchange for premium advertising inventory,” Hutchinson adds.
He says the new hire will strengthen KPEX’s offering in the New Zealand programmatic advertising market.
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