CODACAN Names New Board, New Strategic Plans

February 28, 2012 by Dave Haynes

The Canadian Out-of-Home Digital Association (CODACAN) had its Annual General Meeting last week, electing a new slate of Directors and signing off on plans to build up the organization and industry profile in 2012.

The new Board is Bruno Pupo of LG Electronics, John Brosseau of Consumer Media Solutions, Haroon Mirza of Intel, Joe Cotugno of Ayuda, Michael Girgis of Onestop Media and Michel Cote of Neo-Traffic, with Charles Vachon of Captivate (Chair), Gaetano Cardone of Fokus Media (Vice Chair), Patrick Galante of Zoom Media (Director of Membership), Ed Voltan of CHMN (Treasurer), Nancy Biglow of Scala (Director of Marketing), and Ted Bradley of Roberts Media (Secretary).

Only one I don’t know is the boss Vachon – which is slightly weird because I got into Digital OOH via Captivate (but left in 2001). Vachon joined way later.

CODACAN says the blend of old and new gives them “the energy, commitment and knowledge that will be required in equal amounts to accomplish the ambitious plan set forth at the meeting. The objectives for the year, as presented to the membership, involve the expansion of CODACAN’s events portfolio to include and engage a larger cross-section of the industry players, the commencement of an educational industry outreach program designed to speak directly to agencies about the medium, the undertaking of case studies to gauge the level of effectiveness of the medium, and the implementation of a rebranding effort.”

“CODACAN is poised to have a year of membership growth and another year of industry events and programs to further build awareness and education for the Canadian DOOH marketplace. This year’s diverse board of directors and passionate executive team will continue to ensure that the membership has a common voice and further ensure that DOOH is a required platform and medium in any media mix in today’s digital landscape,” says Michael Girgis, President of Pattison Onestop and Founding Chair of CODACAN.

Founded in 2005, CODACAN is very much like the DPAA in the US, with a liberal sprinkling of the competing DSA and DSF. The focus is very much on the needs of advertisers, agencies, and digital networks, but CODACAN has always needed industry suppliers to bolster its member ranks and help pay the bills.

The agency outreach and measurement stuff is ALL about Digital OOH, which is all needed – but not overly relevant to a substantial wash of vendors that want nothing to do with high-risk ad-driven networks.

I’m not a member, but was in the past. I embrace the idea of driving into Toronto for 8 am meetings about membership drives with the same boundless zeal I have for unclogging rain gutters during a lightning storm. Not a model member.