Has to be a good appointment in IMO, a man with credentials, wide experience and good knowledge of the sector.
He did say when he did his IAB thing a few months ago that he didn't know anything about affiliate marketing, so guess he has leart quite quickly!
It's a good thing for Tradedoubler (they need it at the moment) but potentially a bad thing for the IAB, one of the reasons Ben was picked was because he WASN'T part of a network!
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James Little | Head of Affiliate Development | AffiliateFuture
Email/MSN: james.little@affiliatefuture.co.uk | Phone: 0207 927 6579
He did say when he did his IAB thing a few months ago that he didn't know anything about affiliate marketing!
umm sounds like one of those cabinet minister scenarios where they know nothing about health, sport, finance etc. and end up in charge it for the whole country.
Good luck to him though, am sure he has a wealth of transferable skills and will get on fine
My congratulations go to Ben and Lara on their new appointments at Tradedoubler. Both come with proven backgrounds and whilst their knowledge of affiliate marketing may not be on par with others (for the time being) they do bring a willingness to listen, learn and adapt. A welcome skill in any organisation let alone TD.
It's another testament to the growing emphasis placed on Affiliate Marketing when high calibre individuals like this are tempted away from their existing media channels.
Regarding Ben's appointment as IAB Chair, I would hope Ben can see out his tenure, he has more than enough character and I really don't see this as a conflict of interest. If anything this is probably more of a handicap for TD (as we found when David Hall was Chair), as there is greater emphasis to be totally fair. He's done a sterling job so far and there's no reason why that won't continue be the case.
Plus it was hard enough first time round to choose someone who didn't have a conflict of interest
If Ben manages to do as much for Tradedoubler as he has done for the IAB since his appointment then Tradedoubler's troubled days are behind them.
Congratulations Ben on your new role - so now you've got two new babies in a few months!!
Although I have only known Ben personally for a few months, my gut feel is that he will not allow Tradedoubler to influence his decisions in the IAB - true only time will tell but at the moment I'm not concerned by his new role.
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Never argue with idiots. They just drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience.
If ignorance is bliss then some of the people I know must be orgasmic.
If you've got a traffic warden sat next to you in the car - are you going to park on double yellows ? - probably depends on your relationship with with that person.
I can think of one on-line Company that cleaned up it's advertsing/marketing act after getting a big contract with a Government agency - they really had no choice, but are better for it 'ethically'.
He did say when he did his IAB thing a few months ago that he didn't know anything about affiliate marketing, so guess he has leart quite quickly!
It's a good thing for Tradedoubler (they need it at the moment) but potentially a bad thing for the IAB, one of the reasons Ben was picked was because he WASN'T part of a network!
lol, that made me laugh! I guess its from his reputation and emails from him. Still I wish Ben good luck, its a vital role at the network which seems to have lost it's personality of late, so perhaps this will change.
re the IAB, I too at this stage hope that Ben sees this through as the affiliate council is making great progress and I'm sure it has a great deal to with Ben's steering and involvement.
Matthew
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Sorry - I realise that my previous post may have looked negative and was not my intention to make people laugh! Ben has done a fantastic job with the IAB and I very much think that it's a great appointment by TD, who seem to be taking a bit of a pounding at the moment and losing all their merchants.
I was also a little strong in suggesting it's a bad thing for the IAB - Ben has by all accounts been doing a great job and I hope to see this continue.
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James Little | Head of Affiliate Development | AffiliateFuture
Email/MSN: james.little@affiliatefuture.co.uk | Phone: 0207 927 6579
I am pleased to see Ben who I believe has been an asset to the IAB join Trade Doubler and help them get themselves back on track.
I have found Ben to be very professional when I have dealt with him at the IAB and hopefully will help to improve Trade Doubler and the IAB in the future.
Well done and I look forward to working with you in the future.
First of all congratulations to TD on the appointment of Ben and Lara, two very capable people who I'm sure will be an asset.
With regards to the IAB, I don't see any difficulties in Ben staying on in his role. Anyone who attends these meetings regularly would realise that the role of the chair is to faciliatate and formalise the debate going on, rather than actually shaping what the discussions are about. Ben has proved himself very efficient at this and he and Dan make a great double act.
As has been said many times before, it would be good to see more of the people who post about the IAB Affiliate Marketing Council turn up to the meetings to find out what goes on.
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