Martin Radelfinger is the new President of the IAB Switzerland Association
At its first-ever online general meeting on Tuesday, the IAB Switzerland Association, the industry association for Swiss digital advertising, presented not only its activity report for 2019 but also a positive final balance sheet and, with Martin Radelfinger, a new president.
Martin Radelfinger is the new president of the IAB Switzerland Association. (Photo: Goldbach)
Roger Baur and David Burst were able to report on an eventful year 2019, which again resulted in a profit. This is mainly based on income from the Academy. In 2019, ten diploma courses and three customized in-house training courses were held. Various IAB events such as the Digital Experience Conference DEX, the second Content Marketing Day, and the second Programmatic Day in Lausanne were also a success.
Expansion of the Board of Management
Roger Baur has made himself available for a seat on the IAB Board following his resignation as Managing Director. He was elected without a dissenting vote and will take over the Education portfolio in the future. David Burst has decided to step down as President and to focus on his activities in the IAB Board (Communication and Events) in the future.
Martin Radelfinger becomes new president
Martin Radelfinger of Goldbach Group was elected as Burst's successor and is also a new member of the board of the IAB Switzerland Association. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dreifive was already jointly responsible for the founding of the European umbrella association, IAB Europe, in 1998. His extensive network in the Swiss and international digital advertising market is second to none.
"When we brought the IAB from New York via London to Europe in 1997, I had no idea what an important role this association would play in the development of digital advertising in Europe, and in Switzerland in particular," the newly minted president is quoted as saying. "To now be nominated for this function by my long-time professional colleagues is a great honor."
As a result, the IAB Switzerland Board will comprise seven members as of the 2019 General Meeting.
Changes in the Advisory Board
Due to the close cooperation with the Swiss Advertising Association SWA, the agency association Leading Swiss Agencies and the interest group electronic media IGEM, their managing directors Roland Ehrler (SWA), Catherine Purgly (LSA) as well as Siri Fischer (IGEM) will take a seat on the Advisory Board of IAB Switzerland in the future. They will thus have an advisory function. The Advisory Board will thus consist of 14 members in the future.
New branch manager
There are also changes in the IAB Switzerland office. Urs Flückiger from Mediamint has already taken over the management of the office in April in addition to his seat on the board and is thus responsible for the day-to-day business.
Targets for the 2020 financial year
A core objective for the current financial year is the establishment of the transparency initiative, which the IAB Switzerland is driving forward together with the SWA and the LSA. In addition, the focus is on the topic of data protection. Here, the IAB is working closely with its European partners. Finally, the topic of "Standards in the Swiss digital advertising market" is being driven forward. This includes quality certificates for agencies active in the field of digital marketing. One certificate each for SEO and SEA are among the first to be offered in the Swiss market in Q2 2020. The topic of 3rd party cookies will also occupy the IAB in the current year.
At the Academy, the program, which consists of the diploma courses at the basic and advanced levels, as well as various specialized courses, will temporarily continue online.
