OAAA Names IAB Senior Executive Anna Bager President & CEO
Her background has trained her well for the new technological diversity affecting out-of-home advertising, the OAAA says.
The Washington, D.C.-based Outdoor Advertising Association of America has named Anna Bager, executive vice president of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, as its new president and CEO.
Bager succeeds Nancy Fletcher, who has headed up the trade association that represents the $8 billion-plus U.S. out-of-home advertising industry, since 1991.
The nonprofit organization she is joining says Bager is a seasoned, cross-platform media executive with a clear vision for advancing OOH advertising in today’s omnichannel landscape. During her more than eight-year tenure at IAB, Bager led all digital, mobile, video, and data industry initiatives representing more than 650 member companies, including megabrands like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Disney, and Microsoft.
At IAB, Bager was also responsible for market research, media measurement, and thought leadership; she partnered with IAB’s public policy team in Washington to advocate on critical issues like brand safety and consumer privacy; and she led the Digital Content Newfronts and the Podcast Upfronts, which significantly advanced the premium video and digital audio advertising marketplaces, according to that organization.
“We are thrilled that Anna Bager is taking the helm at OAAA,” says Sean Reilly, OAAA chairman of the board and CEO of Lamar Advertising Co. “In addition to her experience helping to lead such a well-respected media trade association, Anna’s expertise in mobile, data, measurement, and programmatic is the perfect fit for the future of our industry. I’m looking forward to working closely with Anna to advance OOH.”
Out-of-home advertising is becoming more powerful all the time, Bager says, with mobile, social and smart data all working together to deliver powerful messages.
“Like digital advertising five or six years ago, OOH is at a pivotal point in its trajectory,” says Bager. “I’m looking forward to applying many of the lessons I’ve learned at IAB to help grow OOH into a bigger, stronger, and more integrated player in advertising.”
