Brandtone Hires Chairman for International Push

Mobile marketing firm Brandtone has appointed British businessman Peter Bamford as Chairman, to oversee the company's international expansion plans.

Dublin-based Brandtone uses free airtime and other incentives to encourage consumers to interact with brands via their mobile phones and share information about themselves. Last year, the firm partnered with TNS to provide the research company with exclusive access to its database of engaged consumers in developing and emerging markets including South Africa, Turkey, Russia and Brazil.

In addition to overseeing the company's international growth, Bamford (pictured) will also contribute to the further development of Brandtone's products, in order to help brands use mobile and big data to interact with consumers in emerging markets.

Bamford currently serves as Chairman of SuperGroup, which owns the youth fashion retail brand Superdry, and he is also Chairman of Six Degrees Technology Group, and of PRS for Music. From 1998 to 2006, he worked for Vodafone in a number of senior roles, including Chief Marketing Officer, CEO Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa, and CEO of Vodafone UK. Prior to this, he held senior positions at WH Smith, Tesco, and Kingfisher.

Donald Fitzmaurice, co-founder and CEO, comments: 'Mobile is essential to helping major brands grow and prosper in the developing world - where 70% of their revenue is set to come from by the end of the decade - but we need to be able to grow rapidly to realise this huge opportunity. Peter's rich experience will ensure we achieve this growth sustainably, helping to establish Brandtone as an indispensable partner for brands in the world's highest-growth regions.'

Web site: www.brandtone.com .