The Drum’s Digital Trading Awards 2015 now open for entry with FT, Kellogg’s, MediaCom and ISBA on board as judges

The Drum’s head of content Andy Oakes said the theme for the 2015 awards will be to focus on brands’ use of programmatic media trading, and how the market can improve its overall perception.

Oakes said: “A year ago when we kicked off the 2013/14 Drum Digital Trading Awards program we wanted to highlight the issues with programmatic trading that were putting off advertisers. We wanted to highlight the companies that were majoring on clarity and transparency, and raise the issues that faced the industry and challenge the industry to do better.

“The industry really wanted to put their side of the story. This wasn’t just a market dominated by overly technical types, complicated Lumascape charts, smoke and mirrors percentage taking middlemen and a plethora of acronyms.

“This is one of the most exciting evolutions of advertising ever and whilst it needs to be acknowledged that there are still a lot issues to be addressed, there is some amazing work being done and we hope that the awards element of the programme highlighted that.

“This year, we want to develop that theme but we really want to focus on the brands and how the market can improve its perception. To a certain extent we know that the strong point of the adtech sector has been direct marketing. Now we also want to show how it can be used for a scaleable, real-time, brand building media play.”

He referenced a recent Warc survey which claimed that 29 per cent of UK marketers have still not heard of programmatic trading, adding “That needs to change and we see that as one of the main aims of this year’s programme”.

See below for the full judging panel line-up:

• Alex Tait, EMEA digital director, Kellogg's
• Andy McNab, managing director, Rocket Fuel UK
• Anthony Hitchings, digital advertising operations director, Financial Times
• Ben Sutherland, board director, head of performance, Vizeum UK
• Bob Wootton, director of media & advertising, ISBA
• Chris Dobson, executive chairman, The Exchange Lab
• David McMurtrie, head of publishers UK - Partner Business Solutions, Google
• Deirdre McGlashan, chief digital officer, MediaCom
• ​Graham Wylie, senior director, EMEA & APAC Marketing, AppNexus
• James Booth, founder and group CEO, Rockabox
• Louise Wong, UK managing director, Amnet
• Nigel Gwilliam, media and emerging technologies consultant, IPA
• Simon Halstead, director, Microsoft Advertising Exchange, EMEA
• Tim Irwin, chief operating officer, Maxus

Graham Wylie, senior director, EMEA & APAC Marketing, AppNexus Europe, said: "AppNexus is the largest independent adtech company and our technology powered many of entries to the first Digital Trading Awards. This year, we wanted to play a more active part in promoting the great work our industry is doing.

“By partnering with The Drum for the 2015 Digital Trading Awards we aim to showcase how programmatic is transforming digital advertising and empowering brands and their agencies to achieve more.

"Earlier this year we worked with IAB Europe and Warc to complete one of the largest studies of programmatic ever undertaken in Europe and found that a lack of understanding and a shortage of skills are a key challenge for all parts of the industry.

"By raising the profile of what can be achieved, The Drum Digital Trading Awards in partnership with AppNexus will further understanding and encourage new talent to enter this dynamic market."

The awards are sponsored by Integral Ad Science, Millennial Media, Quantcast, StrikeAd and Tube Mogul.

The awards will be open for entry via the Digital Trading Awards website until 13 February 2015.