Data Innovators Group to Honor Auren Hoffman, LiveRamp CEO, With Its Data Innovator of the Year Award

2015 Data Innovator of the Year Dinner and Presentation Is Slated for Thursday, April 23, in New York


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Mar 18, 2015) - The Data Innovators Group (DIG), in association with the Direct Marketing Club of New York (www.dmcny.org), will present its 2015 Data Innovator of the Year Award to Auren Hoffman, CEO of LiveRamp, an Acxiom company, at a gala dinner on Thursday, April 23 (5:30 pm EDT), at the Cornell Club in New York City. The invitation-only event brings together business leaders nationwide in the field of data-driven marketing.

The Data Innovator of the Year Award goes to an individual who has made significant contributions to the use of data for marketing effectiveness, advocates for positive change and serves as a role model to those entering the field.

"Auren epitomizes the spirit of DIG as an entrepreneur and evangelist of the power of data," says Fran Green, president/Smart Data Solutions, ALC, and co-chairperson of DIG. "As marketers increasingly need data for more relevant interactions with prospects and customers, his vision to connect data to every marketing application has been both innovative and impactful."

As the driving force behind LiveRamp, a data onboarding provider for online marketing platforms, Hoffman leads the company which was acquired last summer by Acxiom. Hoffman is also an angel investor in more than 75 tech firms, and served as a Board member to Brightroll which was acquired by Yahoo! last year. In addition, Hoffman is former chair of Stonebrick Group. Previously, he founded and sold three Internet companies before age 30: BridgePath (sold in 2002), Kyber Systems (sold in 1997), and GetRelevant (sold in 2002). Auren holds a bachelor of science degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from University of California, Berkeley.

"Thanks to the efforts of business leaders such as Auren, more brands can use their customer data to create better engagement with consumers," said Jeff Kobil, vice president, MeritDirect, and co-chairperson, DIG, who also noted the continued growth of the annual dinner event. "We thank our sponsors Data Services, Dataline, Epsilon, LiveRamp, MeritDirect and Nextmark, many of whom are returning from last year's big success -- and all of whom celebrate data innovation."

Past Data Innovator of the Year honorees include industry luminaries such as Dr. Charles Stryker (last year's recipient), Lon Mandel, Phil Wiland, Chris Paradysz and Donn Rappaport, among others. At this year's dinner, Stryker will present the award to Hoffman, and offer his views on the exciting trends in the industry. In accepting the award, Hoffman will also share insights and predictions about the marriage between data marketing and technology.

The Thursday, April 23 event begins at 5:30 pm EDT. Besides hearing Hoffman and Stryker speak, attendees will benefit from the opportunity to network with colleagues and peers in the data marketing field. Those who wish to attend can register here: http://www.dmcny.org/DIG_Annual_Dinner_2015. Invitation is subject to review and approval.

The Data Innovators Group, whose members select the award winner each year, is comprised of senior-level data marketers who are shaping the futures of their companies and the data-driven marketing field. Originally affiliated with the Direct Marketing Association (U.S.), The Data Innovators Group joined forces with the Direct Marketing Club of New York in 2011 to continue providing opportunities for forward-thinking business leaders to exchange ideas and experiences.

About Direct Marketing Club of New York
The Direct Marketing Club of New York (http://www.dmcny.org) has served the direct marketing field since its founding in 1926 -- and today encompasses all facets of integrated data-driven marketing across all media categories. Serving the Greater New York region through its luncheons, networking and website, DMCNY is a leading source of current education and information in the field of measurable marketing. DMCNY also provides substantial financial support in the form of scholarships to New York City colleges and universities where direct and interactive marketing are taught.

Contact Information:

Media Contact:
Chet Dalzell
Public Relations Consultant for DMCNY
(917) 608-2251