O2 has announced that it is to appoint Claire Valoti as MD of its media business

O2 in the UK today announced that it is to appoint Claire Valoti as Managing Director of its media business, a division of Telefónica UK, effective 3^rd January 2012.

Valoti will have full P&L responsibility for the O2 Media business, evolve the proposition while continuing to drive thought leadership, innovation and growth in the mobile advertising space. Since the launch of O2 Media in 2008, the company’s offering has developed to ensure a brand’s message gains the attention and engagement it needs through personalised targeted messaging, whether text, location or offer-based.  The O2 More permission-based messaging service now has over six million customers and has worked with many UK leading FMCG brands.

Tim Sefton, New Business Director in the UK said: “O2 Media goes from strength to strength and it leads the whole industry in this emerging personalised advertising platform.  We are now able to deliver demographic, behavioural and proximity engagement as we the best data and insight in the industry and are successfully delivering real consideration and purchase intent for key brands and media agencies. We continue to make O2 More and Priority Moments relevant and of value to our customer base. Claire has impressive and relevant experience that makes her the ideal choice as the Managing Director of O2 Media I’m looking forward to using her skills to evolve and grow O2 Media further.”

Claire Valoti said: “Mobile is such an exciting development in the marketing world right now; I am excited to be joining O2 Media who are at the forefront of driving this innovation. They truly know their audience and understand that mobile marketing has to add value.  It needs to drive attention and engagement to the customer and the brands they partner with.”

Valoti has been at Mindshare for the past 11 years where she was Head of Digital display and mobile. During that time she worked across most client sectors including Automotive, Finance, Technology, Retail and FMCG as well as helping to build and shape the digital team and most recently developed the Mindshare mobile offering.  Over the past two years Valoti has worked with the IPA digital group and was appointed Co-Chair of the Mobile Marketing Association for the UK in 2010.

Valoti replaces Shaun Gregory who has moved on to a new role in Telefónica Digital and will report into Telefónica UK New Business Director, Tim Sefton, who reports to Telefónica UK Chief Executive, Ronan Dunne.