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Samsung expands APAC team for ad-supported streaming TV
Samantha Cooke and Brigitte Slattery
Samsung has made key leadership appointments across its TV services business as ad-supported TV viewing continues to rise.
Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) consumption across Asia Pacific (APAC) experienced significant growth last year. According to cloud technology company Amagi, the number outpaced global trends with triple-digit increases in viewing hours and ad impressions.
Last year, Samsung TV Plus had 88 million monthly active users and experienced over 50% year-over-year viewership growth. Following its Southeast Asia launch, it now reaches audiences in Australia, India, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Key leadership appointments
To capitalise on this momentum and further enhance the advertising experience, Samsung has strategically expanded its leadership team with key appointments.
Brigitte Slattery is now regional head, Samsung TV Plus, APAC, overseeing regional content, operations, product and marketing to drive local growth.
Slattery will report to Salek Brodsky, Samsung TV Plus’s senior vice president and general manager.
Prior to Samsung, Slattery held roles at Network Ten, Foxtel, HBO and NBCUniversal.
Samantha Cooke has been promoted to head of marketing and analytics, Samsung Ads, Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO).
With extensive experience in previous publisher and agency roles, Cooke will lead marketing and data efforts to drive results for partners while fuelling the brand’s regional growth.
In addition, Virgile Edragas, has expanded his role to head of data and analytics, APAC.
Meanwhile, Alex Smith joins Samsung Ads after more than a decade at Nielsen to lead its role as a founding member of the Video Futures Collective (VFC) and key industry bodies.
Immense potential
“The remarkable growth of ad-supported TV underscores the immense potential for advertisers to reach highly engaged audiences through streaming,” says Alex Spurzem, managing director, Samsung Ads, SEAO.
“These leadership appointments are testament to both the team’s achievements to date, and the huge opportunities still ahead for brands and advertisers.”
Slattery adds, “Audiences still love watching TV channels. The only difference is now they are streaming it.
“We’ve made the free TV experience easier and instant, so when you switch on a Samsung TV, you’ve got a great mix of both local and global premium content ready to go.”
