Our Industry Profile takes a weekly look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, ad tech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles and companies across the buzzing industry.
This week we meet Will Griffith, regional director, APAC, Oracle Marketing Cloud.
Duration in current role/time at the company?
I have been working at Oracle since the acquisition of Eloqua in February 2013. I have been in a sales leadership role for APAC since moving from the UK to Australia in October 2012.
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
Oracle Marketing Cloud gives both B2C and B2B marketers innovative cloud technology to help them make a step change in the performance of their digital multi-channel marketing activity.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
The acquisition of BlueKai, which brought together the previously disparate channels in digital advertising (display, search, etc) and campaign (email, SMS, mobile app push), creating a single unified data platform for marketers to profile, segment and target in more creative and relevant ways than ever before.
Best thing about the industry you work in?
Marketing is fundamentally creative – the successful ones take risks knowing they might fail; they want to push themselves and their teams, experiment and learn from the outcome.
Previous industry-related companies you have worked at?
My more recent background was with Eloqua where I worked in marketing automation, focused around direct digital channels (email mainly). Prior to that, Smart Focus in traditional channel (postal and phone) marketing analysis and campaign management. Prior to these I headed up new business sales for Red Eye, a UK-based early pioneer of ad tech (pre-Double Click Europe launch) with digital media planning, post-click banner tracking, and third party ad serving technology solutions. I was there at the very beginning of ad tech’s birth in Europe!
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years’ time?
Championing the cause for APAC’s most exciting marketing solutions at Oracle.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I have several trophies from racing radio-controlled cars when I was in my youth.
Top networking tip?
Find out what motivates someone – why they do what they do. Get behind the title and brand to find the real person and establish a connection at this level. It will lead to longer lasting and more meaningful relationships.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Café Sydney
My favourite advert is:
Cadburys - The Gorilla Drummer
My must-have gadget is:
My iPhone
My favourite media is:
Print magazine
My favourite TV show is:
Grand Designs (UK or AUS)
The last book I read:
National Geographic
My mantra / philosophy is:
If a job's worth doing it's worth doing well
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing because:
I had a mate at Haymarket Publishing who convinced me they had the best graduate sales training course and best social life in one package!
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
An environmental geologist.
In five years' time I'll be:
Proud of my first child going to university.
Define your job in one word:
Motivating.
What's your poison?
Depends. To start the day, a good long black. To start the evening, a gin and tonic.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
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