Vibes Appoints Laura Desmond to Board of Directors

Vibes, a mobile engagement platform for enterprises, has recently announced that senior digital marketing and technology executive Laura Desmond has joined its board of directors. Formerly the chief revenue officer of Publicis Groupe and CEO of Publicis' Starcom MediaVest Group, Desmond brings global experience from a nearly 30-year career in marketing and media in a variety of senior leadership roles. Desmond is currently senior advisor to the CEO at Uptake, a fast-growing predictive analytics company based in Chicago.

"Laura's insights into the world of strategy, digital marketing and technology are second to none," said Jack Philbin, co-founder and CEO, Vibes. "As a true visionary, she was one of the first executives to realize the pivotal role of mobile in a CMO's arsenal. We cannot overstate the impact of having a leader of her caliber on board to help guide our next stage of growth."

As senior advisor at Uptake, Desmond is working directly with co-founder and CEO Brad Keywell and his team on business and brand strategy, marketing and communications. Uptake is one of the fastest-growing companies in the technology sector, reaching a $2 billion valuation faster than any other technology startup, according to Pitchbook. Uptake is a predictive analytics company delivering IoT products and solutions for the industrial sector.         

As CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group, media services agency, Desmond oversaw a staff of 8,500 people in more than 100 offices globally for 8 years. During this time, Desmond more than doubled the size of the Starcom MediaVest Group network while partnering on the marketing and communication strategies for a number of leading global brands. She also serves on the boards of directors of Adobe and Syniverse, a Vibes investor.

"Mobile is the marketing industry's greatest opportunity, and Vibes is well positioned to help forward-thinking brands capitalize," said Desmond. "I am honored to join this innovative company's board of directors and look forward to contributing to its continued success."