Tim has been active in the mobile marketing arena since 1999 and joined the go2 team in 2005 to lead sales and business development initiatives. Tim started his career in sales and marketing with SmithKline Beecham and have always enjoyed devising new and creative ways of helping brands and agencies expand their mobile and online presence through advertising. Tim's senior level experience with Direct Response Technologies, Adversoft, SkyGo, Vertis and Valassis Communications, has kept him focused on the explosive growth of new media and how to best exploit it in joining users with various products and services.
go2 Media is currently ranked by Nielsen Mobile as one of the top 20 mobile websites in the U.S. with mobile phone users accessing go2 more than two million times every month. Since 2001, go2 Media has delivered more than one billion WAP page views of local content to mobile phone users across U.S. carriers. The company has longstanding relationships with carriers and advertisers; industry-leading deck placement, traffic and advertising-supported content; a network of localized, personal mobile correspondents; and multiple platforms for content delivery.
Active in the marketing and advertising industry for over 20 years, my career is a blend of perspectives that I believe are of great value to the mission and members of the MMA.
Those years have been spent in a mix of client, agency, and entrepreneurial positions. On the agency side, I've worked in account management for agencies ranging from public to private, local to multi national, and in advertising centers like New York to more regional locales such as Washington, DC, and Atlanta. On the client side, I've held positions leading utilization of "emerging media" for three Fortune 500 firms in three distinct categories: Transportation )created the Interactive Marketing Department at UPS), Financial Services )ran eBusiness at ING), and Consumer Packaged Goods )The Coca Cola Company where I re launched the primary Web experience for the world's most valuable brand: Coca Cola). I've also spent a little time growing my own business, writing and publishing a series of books for the children of business traveling parents.
Currently, my role with The Coca Cola Company involves the delivery and growth of highly visible, ground breaking global programs, both on the Web )re launch of www.Coca-Cola.com), and in the mobile space )The Sprite Yard). As a member of a global team, my work puts me in touch with consumer marketing programs )including mobile, of course) in countries all over the world.
In the two years that I've been involved )as a board member with North America, as treasurer of the global board, and as board sponsor of the "Measurement Committee"), I've been able to create a highly symbiotic relationship between Coca-Cola and the MMA. With regard to other MMA member companies, I've endeavored to help in the overall growth of the industry by being as accessible as possible to share insights into the needs of major brands.
As the June launch of The Sprite Yard )announced at MMF due in part to my influence), mobile marketing is a critical and urgent priority for The Coca Cola Company. I play a lead role in developing the Company's strategic response and supporting its tactical commitments. For the MMA and its members, participating on the board creates an opportunity to channel that urgency and inspire all stakeholders - within my Company, within other member companies, and among individual participants - to realize the full potential of mobile marketing NOW.
In 2002, I began working with Telescope to promote wireless into major US TV programs. Our parent company and its partners had already pioneered participation TV in Europe, and saw a massive opportunity in the US market for these services. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to develop interactive applications for the world's largest participation TV experience, 'American Idol.' Participation TV represents the most visible and important educational applications for the wireless industry. Since our initial work with 'American Idol' in 2002, we have seen the industry and our company grow in a very responsible manner.
My work with the MMA represents one of the most important aspects of continued responsible industry growth. I have proactively brought issues from other markets and the US market to the attention of the MMA. As a result, the MMA has launched the Participation TV subcommittee, which continues to provide important input to the Consumer Best Practices committee.
As a board member, my goals will be to:
Webster Lewin, R/GA's director of mobile marketing, works with the Mobile & Emerging Media/Applications )MEMA) group to promote and develop the agency's substantial and rapidly growing in-house mobile marketing and advertising practice. He is responsible for extending that capability across all R/GA accounts. Webster works to identify and develop global opportunities for clients that include Nike, Nokia, L'Oréal, Subaru, and Verizon Wireless.
Webster also serves as co-chairman of the Campaign Strategies and Best Practices committee of the Mobile Marketing Association and is an active participant on a number of other MMA committees.
Prior to joining R/GA, Webster served as supervisor of mobile marketing at VML, a WPP company, where he lead the development of mobile programs for Windows Mobile, Sprint, Burger King, and other clients.
During his 17-year career, Webster has worked in film, television, interactive media, and digital marketing. He was the co-founder and creative director of the DE-LUX'O interactive design studio and publishing company and led the development of interactive marketing programs for international clients like IBM, Sony, Disney, Audi, Siemens Mobile Networks, Tetra Pak, Bertelsmann Online, Citibank, Quicksilver, Lee Jeans, Nissan, Neutrogena, and others.
Webster has an MFA in film directing from Columbia University School of the Arts and a BS in communications from the University of Texas at Austin.
R/GA )www.rga.com) is a full-service digital agency that transforms the way people interact with brands. It was the only digital agency named to AdAge's Agency "A-List" in 2007, and was Adweek's Interactive Agency of the Year in 2006, 2004 and 2002. R/GA provides a wide range of services for world-class brands, Fortune 500 companies, and educational and cultural institutions. A commitment to design, technology, and innovation has defined R/GA's continuing legacy as an iconoclast in the world of communications and marketing.
Founded in 1977, R/GA has received the top creative awards for film, broadcast, design, advertising, and interactive. R/GA is part of The Interpublic Group )NYSE:IPG), one of the world's largest advertising and marketing services organizations.
Highlights of Active Participation
Webster has been actively involved with the Mobile Marketing Association since 2005.
I am a passionate believer in the power and value of mobile marketing and its growing importance in the rapidly evolving media environment we now live in. I also believe that it is essential that advertising and marketing agencies play a greater role within the Mobile Marketing Association in order to ensure the continued growth of mobile marketing and mobile advertising.
If elected to the 2008 MMA Board of Directors, I will work diligently to see that the promise of mobile marketing is realized for all of us working in this exciting industry.