Vivaki secures deals with top search engines

by Andrew McCormick, Media Week 25-Jun-08, 16:10

LONDON - Publicis Groupe's Vivaki, the ad giant's digital initiative announced earlier today, has unveiled deals with Google, Yahoo, AOL and Microsoft to boost clients' ability to target online users.

The new Audience on Demand Network, a technology platform underlying Vivaki, will encompass properties from Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and AOL's Platform A, enabling clients to reach online audiences more easily, by defining users by their interests.

The new technology platform will centralise the way its subsidiaries buy digital campaigns.

David Kenny, managing partner at VivaKi, said: "Our intention is to provide access to an audience of this scale through a single point of entry, with optimised pricing."

Publicis Groupe is basing its network on Google's DoubleClick platform and will also integrate it with Yahoo's Right Media Exchange, which allows companies to trade ad inventory.

The deal with Yahoo also extends to mobile advertising, with Publicis Groupe seeking new ways to target mobile phone users with relevant ads.

Publicis Groupe, led by chairman and chief executive Maurice Levy (pictured), has appointed Publicis Groupe Media chairman Jack Klues and Digitas chief executive Kenny to lead Vivaki.