Ocean Outdoor [1], the UK’s leader in iconic and spectacular Digital Out of Home Media, today announced the appointment of Shaun Gregory, Global Director of Advertising at Telefonica, as a non-executive Director to its Board.
[2]Tom Goddard, Ocean Outdoor’s Chairman, told us “We are delighted to welcome a person of Shaun’s calibre to the Board. He has more than 25 years’ media experience and a first class track record for developing new media and cross media platforms, but especially digital and mobile.
“He is a leading authority in the UK and international mobile media sector and has an unusual mix of strategic and operational experience at the highest level. Shaun’s unique background will help to broaden and accelerate the pioneering work being led by our CEO Tim Bleakley [3], aimed at creating more convergence and synergies with other digital platforms.”
Shaun Gregory said: “The advertising landscape is changing beyond recognition, primarily driven by technology and data. Against that backdrop there’s an ever increasing need for agencies and brands to find innovative solutions that cut through the clutter. Ocean Outdoor is leading the way with such innovations in the outdoor advertising market. They’re not only providing unique premium advertising opportunities, their pioneering approach is helping to change the perceptions of outdoor media.
“What attracted me to Ocean is purely down to ‘quality’. Firstly, the quality and premium aspect of the products they bring to the market. Secondly, the team recognises the shift going on in the sector and intend to play a meaningful part, through innovation, lastly their willingness and hunger to experiment is refreshing. The sector has always embraced innovation, and there’s little doubt in my mind that Ocean can act as a catalyst.”
In May this year, LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, backed a management buyout of Ocean Outdoor [4] led by Goddard and Bleakley. The Ocean Outdoor board also includes Daniel Sasaki, Managing Director LDC, Bertie Aykroyd, Investment Manager LDC and Ocean Outdoor Chief Financial Officer Stephen Joseph.