OVAB Europe is Launched

Hamburg, Germany - An important milestone in the development of the digital out-of-home industry has been set by the founding of the Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB) European chapter on November 13, 2008 � the first European centric representative of the interests of providers and suppliers of audio visual media at POS and POI.

OVAB Europe is the central point of contact and information source, as a single issue supplement to the existing digital out-of-home industry, for all concerns of industry partners and system providers in this industry.

The stated goal of the association is to showcase the technological, commercial and creative potential of the out-of-home segment and to establish uniform industry standards while strengthening the European centric dialogue between manufacturers, service providers and the advertising industry. By actively exchanging ideas and experiences, the partnership between OVAB Europe and OVAB USA greatly contributes to this endeavor.

By working together, the growth market of the digital out-of-home segment shall be better positioned in the future within the discussion of marketing and distribution solutions. This will also promote exchanges of information regarding the attributes of various European markets. Here the primary focus is to determine the benefit and potential of a distribution channel for the digital out-of-home industry as part of the integrated multi-channel strategies.

The goal is to improve the significance of the digital media at POS and POI in communication and to ensure that the new medium has a firm place within the marketing mix.

The bureau arose out of the need for representation of European centric interests, something that had not existed beforehand. We have enlisted the following well-known companies as founding members of the bureau:


Neo Advertising
Invidis Consulting
ECE Flatmedia
IBM Deutschland
PHILIPS
NEC Display Solutions
Minicom Advanced Systems Ltd.

The Board of OVAB Europe consists of Dirk H�lsermann (Chairman or President), Ronni Guggenheim (Vice Chairman) and Richard Malley (Treasurer).

With Dirk H�lsermann, we have a first-rate expert in the industry as founding president. H�lsermann worked in several management functions within multinational companies such as Kyocera and Mitsui Europe, among others. He established himself as an expert in the advertising and media industry. Against this backdrop, the internationally active media company Neo Advertising was able to acquire him in 2008 as Director Business Development. In his capacity there, H�lsermann is pushing the rapid growth of the Swiss Neo Media Group and focusing the company in its quest to become the leading provider in the Digital Signage segment.

H�lsermann: �Today marks an important date in the still short history of the digital out-of home industry in Europe. The market for digital exterior advertising is growing fast in Western Europe, an average of 32 percent yearly (CAGR). This means net advertising sales with digital exterior advertising will quadruple by 2012 � from 158 Million Euros (2007) to 626 Million Euros in 2012.

With OVAB Europe, an industry with such a tremendous future in front of it now receives the representation it deserves by the entire industry.

I am very proud that we were able to assemble such an impressive group of companies in the digital out-of-home industry for the founding of the association. I am thankful for the confidence expressed in me � it brings me enormous pride � by the founding members in selecting me as founding president. I will carry out my duties in the interest of the digital out-of-home industry with the utmost enthusiasm and determination�

About Ronni Guggenheim:
Ronni Guggenheim is highly experienced in Digital Signage and is now a member of the Board of OVAB Europe. In his capacity as president of Minicom Europe, a pioneer in the Digital Signage industry and leading manufacturer of Last Mile Solutions for Digital Signage, Ronni is at the forefront of this ever-growing market and he has actively moved the industry forward. He has a wealth of contacts in his management function and is closely connected to all areas and important companies and will capitalize on these connections in his capacity as a member of the Board.

About Richard Malley:
Richard Malley was previously Managing Director of the YOC AG in Berlin. Since its founding, he was responsible for the strategic development of the company and for national and international distribution. Before that he worked at CIAO.COM AG in Munich in its International Business Development/Distribution group. After completing his studies for his BA in international business/marketing in New York and Brussels, he worked at Kynast AG in New York and subsequently at Emmerson Communications AG in Frankfurt/Main. Richard Malley is responsible at flatmedia for the distribution and strategic business development.

More information about the association can be found at www.ovab.eu



Address:
OVAB Europe e.V. i.G.
i.Hs. Neo Advertising
Ferdinandstrasse 2
D-20095 Hamburg
Tel.: 040/3038415-0
Fax: 040/3038415-20


For press inquiries contact:
Oliver Schwede
invidis consulting GmbH
Rosenheimer Str. 145e
81671 M�nchen
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 2000 416 13
Fax: +49 (0) 89 40 26 92 29
Email:  oliver.schwede@invidis-consulting.de

Minicom Advanced Systems
414 N. Wood Ave
Linden, NJ 07036
Phone: 908-486-2100
E-Mail: sidra.muoio@minicom.com
Website URL: www.minicom.com


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