TAIPEI, June 17, 2020 – Appier, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company, announces today that it has expanded its global leadership with the addition of experienced technology and marketing experts. It also announces its official expansion into Europe, bringing its suite of enterprise products to the market to help businesses in the region grow through effective application of AI and deep learning.
Appier was founded in 2012 and has since become one of the foremost technology partners to more than 1000 global brands, helping them use AI to make data-driven decisions and solve business problems.
Michelle Wong joins Appier as SVP of Enterprise Sales, taking the role after almost 24 years in leadership at IBM where she was General Manager of Technical Support Services ASEAN. In this capacity, she led the sales, operations and delivery team and was responsible for the entire ASEAN P&L for her business unit. Michelle has more than 30 years of experience in the enterprise space and holds a computer science degree from National University of Singapore. At Appier, Michelle leads the global enterprise commercial team and is responsible for propelling the adoption of Appier’s enterprise-grade AI and data science platforms. She is based across Singapore and Taiwan.
“I have seen the transformative power of technology throughout my career. AI is already rewriting the rules of how we do business, and never more so as organizations accelerate their transformation as we navigate the post-pandemic era,” said Wong. “I am fortunate to lead an outstanding global team, all of whom are committed to helping our clients tackle tough problems through the effective use of AI and uncover new opportunities and growth potential in the process. Despite recent changes in the global business landscape, the entire Appier leadership team is looking forward to another momentous year as we move towards our next milestones.”
Leading the expansion in Europe is Alban Villani. Villani joins Appier as SVP of Global Sales, EMEA and SEA, based in Paris, France. He was previously regional managing director at Criteo, where he drove business growth throughout APAC and across verticals including retail, travel and finance. In his international role for Appier, Villani will work with brands and agencies to help them apply deep learning to find new audiences for their products and services.
“As we move towards economic recovery following the height of the global pandemic, we are at a critical moment to help businesses accelerate their digital transformation and increase online efficiency by leveraging AI technology,” said Chih-Han Yu, co-founder and CEO of Appier. “We are committed to bringing our solutions to more customers in APAC and Europe who are serious about improving customer engagement to drive business growth. Alban and Michelle are both proven leaders in global business, and are helping Appier’s clients apply AI and deep learning to meet and exceed their business goals while growing and mentoring stellar teams of international professionals.”
Villani said: “During my time in Asia I watched Appier grow from an AI startup into a technology powerhouse, and I’m thrilled to join the team as it continues on this trajectory. The demand for self-learning digital advertising optimization tools is borderless, and this has never been clearer as we join together as a global community to tackle the challenge of the pandemic. European marketers have an appetite for solutions that can translate vast amounts of data into actionable predictions. Appier’s platforms will allow them to acquire customers and engage audiences across devices and channels- paid and owned- while protecting user privacy. I have heard many marketers asking for a full-funnel solution with deep data insights, and we are glad to be able to provide one to them.”
Appier will continue to grow its presence in Europe. The announcement of new leadership and European expansion follow Appier’s most recent round of Series D funding of US$80M. Appier has received a total of US$162M in funding from global investors including Sequoia, Softbank, and LINE. The most recent capital injection is earmarked to drive global growth, attract the best talent worldwide and super-charge product innovation.
About Appier
Appier helps businesses solve their most challenging problems with artificial intelligence. It is a partner to some of the world’s leading brands, providing a suite of enterprise-grade products to support data-driven decisions and accelerate business growth. Established in 2012 by a passionate team of computer scientists and engineers, Appier now has more than 400 people across 15 offices and is recognized as a Top 50 AI company by Fortune Magazine. Appier has raised US$162 million in funding from investors including Sequoia, Softbank, and Line. Learn more at www.appier.com.
