MEF Draws in a Standing-Room Hollywood and Mobile Crowd to Plan for Industry's Future; Seven Industry Heavyweights Voted in From Across the Value Chain
LOS ANGELES, -- The Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) announced the results of its 2009 MEF Americas board elections. This year's highly competitive board election had the greatest number of potential candidates seeking to gain a prestigious seat in MEF Americas' chapter history. Jim Beddows, representing Motorola was re-elected as Chair of the Americas board, John Orlando, CMO, of LiveWire Mobile was re-elected as Co-Vice Chair, and Gary Schwartz, President and CEO, Impact Mobile was newly elected as Co-Vice Chair. John Orlando will continue to focus on the MEF Americas' marketing activities, and Gary Schwartz will devote his time to Americas industry initiatives.
The elections built on the buzz of excitement created by the standing-room only MEF Inaugural Mobile Leadership Summit hosted by the Writers Guild of Americas in Los Angeles, home of Hollywood's leading TV and screenwriters. Over 150 attendees and 16 invited speakers from the LA area and Americas assembled to discuss the hot button issues that connect the mobile and entertainment communities. The newly expanded MEF Americas Board identified as its key objectives support for:
�Initiatives to foster cooperation between the Hollywood and entertainment communities with the mobile industry to accelerate innovation and revenue opportunities
�Regulatory and policy activities which represent the industry and protect revenues and consumers
�Trade development activities across the Americas and greater localization to support the growth of the mobile entertainment industry in these markets, with an expanded focus upon Latin America and Canada
�MEF metrics and intelligence which illuminate the industry and provide competitive advantage to members.
MEF members voted in seven new board directors representing a balanced and influential cross section of the mobile entertainment value chain. The new board represents members from carrier, handset manufacturing, content distribution, on and off-portal service provider, mobile advertising, metrics and research, and policy segments with greater localized presence in Canada and Latin America.
The following board members were elected to the MEF Americas board:
Ron Czerny, Founder and CEO, Playphone
Gavin Kim, Vice President Content and Data Services and Enterprise Mobility, Samsung Telecommunications America
Sanjaya Krishna, Principal and US Digital Services Leader, KPMG LLP
Steven Masur, Managing Director, MasurLaw
Dan Mo, Senior Program Manager, T-Mobile
John Orlando, CMO, LiveWire Mobile (re-elected for a second term)
Soren Schafft, GM Americas, Fox Mobile Distribution
They join existing board members:
Jim Beddows, representing Motorola
Massimiliano Pelligrini, CEO, Dada Entertainment
Gary Schwartz, President and CEO, Impact Mobile
Joe Waimrin, VP Business Development, mBlox
Over the last 12 months, the MEF Americas chapter has partnered with leading organizations to publish research on consumers' mobile trends; produce an authoritative map on mobile sweepstake regulations in the US; as well as successfully lobbying against SMS surcharge levies and launching initiatives to boost mobile video take-up and promote better understanding of the mobile entertainment value chain.
"We are thrilled by the enthusiasm and support of our Leadership Summit event. The local media companies and studios who participated brought in a high level of energy, creativity and eagerness to better understand how to integrate mobile into their business as a growth strategy" said Jim Beddows, MEF Americas Chair. "Unlike so many pre-fabricated mobile events we see today, this event was unique and highlights the role the Mobile Entertainment Forum is playing bridging the gap between the media and mobile communities."
"The newly elected MEF Americas board brings together an exceptionally strong group of influential leaders who will continue to build upon MEF's core strengths in entertainment, industry-shaping initiatives and business development to accelerate new revenues and bring competitive advantage to our members," said Rimma Perelmuter, Executive Director, Mobile Entertainment Forum.
"I would like to congratulate Jim Beddows on his re-election as Chair of the MEF Americas board. Jim's vision, energy, and leadership have been invaluable in MEF Americas continued growth," said Andrew Bud, Chair of MEF Global. "The MEF plays a critical galvanizing role at the heart of the entertainment community. Now, more than ever, we must work together to accelerate the growth of the industry and in doing so bring strong value to our members."
Notes to the Editor
The Mobile Leadership Summit featured keynotes by Sam Sarkar, a senior executive from Infinitum Nihil, Johnny Depp's production company and The Nielsen Company's Eric Puterbaugh. The opening panel "Global Revenues are $19.5B and $32B for Theatrical Box Office and Mobile Entertainment -- So, How Does Hollywood Stack Rank the Mobile Entertainment Industry?" was led by Andrew Wallenstein editor, digital media of The Hollywood Reporter with panelist representing Coalition Media (Lady Gaga management), Universal Pictures, Marvel Entertainment Inc., Mobile Paramount Pictures, Digital, STATs, and the Writers Guild of America. The concluding panel "Holy Grail or Holy Fail -- Straight Talk on Mobile Entertainment," was moderated by Eric Puterbaugh of The Nielsen Company, with panelist companies including CL King, Clearstone Ventures, Huawei, IODA, Impact Mobile, LiveWire Mobile, and Limelight Networks.
About Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF)
The Mobile Entertainment Forum was formed in 2000 to represent companies throughout the entire mobile entertainment value chain. It is the global trade association for the mobile media industry and takes a proactive role in thought leadership, best practise initiatives, regulatory policy and the sharing of knowledge to deliver competitive advantage to its diverse membership.
With global headquarters in London, a Hollywood-based Americas secretariat, an Asian chapter in Hong Kong and the newly expanded EMEA branch, MEF's network of members represents a veritable 'Who's Who' of mobile entertainment businesses and entrepreneurs. For more information and a full list of members please visit:
www.m-e-f.org.http://www.m-e-f.blogspot.com/
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