IT Life: Mobile Advertising Goes IoT

Mark Strecker is the CEO of mobile advertising technology firm Amobee. Having worked in the mobile industry for more than 20 years, including a stint in Silicon Valley, Strecker now looks to future technology such as the cloud and the Internet of Things to keep ahead of the curve.

How long have you been at your current employer?

I have been at Amobee for almost 5 years, holding the positions of COO and President prior to becoming CEO.

Tell us something about your career

I have worked in technology and mobile for over 20 years. In the 90s, I got into the telecommunications space while helping to develop the mobile operator strategies of Orange and O2. I helped the senior management team at Orange create their first 20-year business plan and raise the initial capital to launch the service in the UK. After moving to Silicon Valley in the mid-90s I worked for Conner Peripherals, a desktop storage company, which was bought by Seagate. I then went on to co-found the mobile software company, MSX, where I developed the first rich media experience as an on-device portal allowing users to customise their feature phone idle screens. In 2008, mobile content company Cellmania acquired MSX, I was retained as its VP of Solutions and the company went on to be acquired by RIM in 2010.

What tech were you involved with ten years ago?

Ten years ago I was at MSX, where I developed the first rich media experience as an on-device portal allowing users to customise their feature phone idle screens.

What tech do you expect to be involved with in ten years’ time?

In ten years’ time, I expect that we will have figured out how to improve digital marketing with the advancements in the Internet of Things.

Who is your tech hero (and why)?

I admire leaders like Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, and Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Alibaba, who in their careers were able to build and organize companies and make them work at a massive scale.

Who is your tech villain (and why)?

Bernie Madoff. He is not necessarily a tech guy but a true villain, nonetheless.

What’s your favourite technology ever made? And which do you use most?

My favourite technology is the mobile phone. I use my mobile phone the most and also chose my career around mobile.

What is your budget outlook? Flat? Growing?

Our business outlook is to scale Amobee aggressively according to market growth. Amobee is quickly expanding to take advantage of the demand for technology globally in the digital marketing space.

Apart from your own, which company do you admire most, and why?

I admire Amazon because it went out into the market with an unproven business model that it refined and scaled globally while expanding into new business areas. Through this approach, Jeff Bezos was able to take the company public and global.

What is the greatest challenge for a tech company or department today?

One of the greatest challenges for a tech company is being able to stay ahead of your competitors while being nimble enough to stay ahead of the innovation curve. We see companies become leaders in the market to then see smaller, nimbler companies able to out-maneuver them.

To Cloud or not to Cloud?

To cloud! The cloud provides companies with flexibility, accelerates adoption of their technology and solutions, and is the most cost effective business model.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was growing, I wanted my father’s job. He was an executive at Schlumberger, a world-renowned energy company.

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