About

Name: Riaz Kanani
Occupation: Director of Product Marketing International
Company: Silverpop Systems
Email: riaz[at]razorshine.com

A mix of entrepreneur, internet evangelist and marketer working with innovative internet technologies; my background has involved work with cutting edge technologies throughout his career, whether it be the nascent flash/java video space in the early 2000s to combining email and social media technologies in 2008. Alongside starting my own companies, I have also helped build out operations in the UK for US/Canadian based companies.

My previous roles have always been (and needed to be!) cross discipline covering marketing, technology, sales, pr and general operations.

Offline, I still have an unhealthy love of gadgets and new technology which only serves to make me pine for the digital lifestyle to arrive sooner rather than later; cooking; photography - if I ever get a decent enough camera to allow for decent experiementation and football (soccer), though I enjoy most sports

I currently work at Silverpop Systems, a leading provider of permission-based email marketing solutions, strategy and services. Much to my satisfaction, Silverpop have consistently been highly ranked by Jupiter Research.

Some history:

In 2004, I co-founded Digital Oxygen, the digital marketing services company that translated sophisticated offline direct marketing techniques to email. Digital Oxygen later became the foundation of the Silverpop EMEA office.

In 2001, I helped to start First~Media, the pioneer of online video advertising and bulk digitisation systems here in the UK. We launched This is Not a Love Song, the first cinematic launch of a movie online and in cinemas to worldwide acclaim and continuously delivered the highest quality video banner campaigns on behalf of clients like Reebok, UIP and Ford.

Prior to this, I advised clients on new and emerging internet technologies which are funded by or deliver internet advertising and supported them in building out their internet presence.

Hobbies and Interests:
gadgets, books, football (soccer), new media, startups, mobile, marketing, video, audio, marketing, food, arts, sport, science, film, cooking, networking, travelling, emerging markets, new technology, computer games

Interesting quotes:
Confucious: Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I might remember but involve me and I’ll understand