Akoo Names Sean Finnegan Chief Strategy Officer, Expands Sales Teams in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Music and entertainment network Akoo today announced that Sean Finnegan has been named Chief Strategy Officer. In addition, the company announced the expansion of sales teams located in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

“Sean has worked in strategy at the highest levels of industry leading companies and we are proud to welcome him to Akoo”

In his role, Finnegan will work directly with Akoo Founder and CEO Niko Drakoulis, to whom he will report, to chart the company's strategy for growth, delivering turnkey, measurable customer awareness and acquisition solutions for its partners. As part of his role, Finnegan will leverage Akoo’s digital video network and its mobility tools to develop win-win partnerships and provide solutions for its clients. Finnegan will also oversee Akoo's sales, research, marketing, public relations, and entertainment and partnerships departments, working to shape the company's vision and message.

“Sean has worked in strategy at the highest levels of industry leading companies and we are proud to welcome him to Akoo,” said Drakoulis. “His deep relationships, combined with his strategic thinking, industry knowledge and ability to connect the dots are sure to create exciting new opportunities for our clients.” Drakoulis continued, “With Sean’s appointment and the expansion of our sales teams coast-to-coast, Akoo is well-positioned to bring a new level of unmatched service and ROI to our clients and partners.”

Finnegan comes to Akoo with deep experience in the digital and media agency world, with executive management roles at industry-leading companies. He joins Akoo from The C4 Group, a consulting company he founded to guide entertainment media companies through the art of better storytelling and deeper awareness in the digital space. As part of his role, he has transitioned the resources of C4 to Akoo.

Said Finnegan, “I’ve spent my career in organizations that move at the speed of innovation and I’m excited to continue on that path at Akoo.” He continued, “The scale of our network is massive. On average, 46 million viewers watch our music and entertainment programming each month. And we have the social and mobile tools that today’s forward-thinking companies need to better connect with and understand active consumers, especially when they are closest to the point-of-sale.”

Prior to founding C4, Finnegan held digital leadership roles at major agency and media owner organizations. Most recently CEO of IPG's Geomentum, Sean drove the company's hyper-local platform by engineering a full-service agency model to enable top retail brand advertisers to operate from a national-to-neighborhood-level approach. Prior to IPG, he served as President, Chief Digital Officer at Starcom MediaVest Group. He also directed a worldwide video-ad network as Chief Marketing Officer of Vibrant Media. As a leader in Omnicom Media Group, he was Chief Executive Officer of OMD Digital where he led its global management team and developed functional services in digital investment, search, mobile, gaming, futures, analytics and ad operations.

Akoo has also expanded its sales force in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, adding five new sales executives to its team.

About Akoo:

Akoo International, Inc. is a global media and technology innovator. The Company's flagship digital video network "Akoo" delivers a premium audience of 46 million* across 61 DMAs that reach 77% of the U.S. population. Akoo's audience is highly engaged, socially savvy, and connected through a participatory music video and entertainment experience whereby viewers can use their mobile devices to make on-demand content requests, connect with friends via Facebook and Twitter, and access exclusive special offers. As a result, Akoo drives unmatched marketing effectiveness and ROI for its clients and partners.

In recognition of its innovative technology, Akoo International holds several patents in major global markets, including the U.S., China, and Japan. The company is based in Rosemont, Illinois, just outside Chicago, where its namesake Akoo Theatre attracts some of the world’s biggest stars and performers for sold-out performances all year-round. In 2012, Akoo International was named one of the Best Places to Work in Media and Marketing by Advertising Age magazine. Find out more at www.akoo.com.

*Source: Nielsen Activity Report, Q1 2012