Alex Yoder, Webtrends
Company: Webtrends, Portland, OR
Entry Submitted By: Zeno Group
Company Description: Webtrends,the global leader in mobile & social analytics, helps create, measure and improve campaigns for more than 7,000 brands including: The New York Times, BMW, RIM, China Telecom, CCTV, Tencent QQ, HSBC, and Petrobras. It also provides optimization and integration of all digital content and customer intelligence - i.e. websites, social media, mobile and paid-search advertising.
Nomination Category: Management Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Computer Software
Nomination Title: Alex Yoder, CEO
Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2010 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
2010 was a banner year for Webtrends: a year of strategic business growth and
acquisitions, customer expansion and retention, and industry partnerships. In
2010, Webtrends grew its new business bookings by 85 percent and its customer
renewal rates shot to nearly 90 percent – with a full 100 percent in the
enterprise category. The company’s service offerings increased by 140 percent
and 375 customers were added to its roster. All of this was accomplished less
than two years after Webtrends began an extensive overhaul – and Alex Yoder took
the helm as CEO.
After a successful twelve year career as a commodities trader, Yoder reset his
career by joining Portland-based Webtrends in 2000. He started in sales, but
quickly ascended into management and became a driving force for Webtrends. Yoder
then left the company in 2006; however, he couldn’t stay away for long. He
returned in January of 2008 and became CEO in six months – just as the company
was entering an era of transformation.
Webtrends had slipped from first to third in its market in revenue and was
out-paced by its competitors in technology, marketing and sales. The executive
cupboard was bare save for the General Council and VP of Engineering. It was up
to Yoder, as the new CEO, to hire an entirely new executive team, construct a
new product roadmap, shore up the organizational structure, and create a new
company culture infused with optimism and competitiveness.
Yoder quickly proved he was what Webtrends needed – a powerhouse CEO capable of
reinventing the company. He kicked off 2010 with the launch of Webtrends
Analytics for Facebook. An industry first, the launch blazed a new trail in
social media marketing, creating record-breaking momentum for Webtrends.
Microsoft Sharepoint, Zinio and 3M were among a slew of companies that signed on
with Webtrends in the coming months. With the boost on the social analytics
side, Yoder saw that it was the right time to push forward Webtrends’ mobile
analytics. As a result Webtrends was chosen to power the analytics and
measurement behind 2010 World Cup mobile apps by The Associated Press and Visa.
Yoder then looked to diversify Webtrends’ offerings with the goal of making
Webtrends the one-stop-shop for digital marketers. The acquisition of social
marketing company Transpond and a licensing agreement with Marin Software
brought two new Webtrends solutions to the market – Webtrends Ads and Webrends
Apps. By the end of the year Webtrends became the only end-to-end Facebook
Marketing solution.
Amidst these developments, Webtrends also sought geographical growth. Under
Yoder’s guidance, Webtrends opened a Tokyo office and within two months Hitachii
Worldwide was added to the company’s customer roster.
Alex Yoder led Webtrends through an incredible transformation and to a lead
position in digital insights and engagement, so it’s no surprise he was awarded
2010 Technology CEO of the Year by Portland Business Journal. He is also
currently serving a two-year term on the board of directors for the Web
Analytics Association, helping guide the industry’s future alongside other
thought leaders.
List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
Portland Business Journal Awards Alex Yoder Technology CEO of the Year in 2010
http://www.webtrends.com/AboutWebtrends/NewsRoom/NewsRoomArchive/2010/PortlandBusinessJournalSelectsWebtrendsAlexYoderAs2010TechnologyCEOofTheYear
Webtrends Recognized as AlwaysOn Global 250 Winner
http://www.webtrends.com/AboutWebtrends/NewsRoom/NewsRoomArchive/2010/WebtrendsEarnsRecognitionasanAlwaysOnGlobal250Winner
Alex Yoder Serves on Web Analytics Association Board of Directors
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Web-Analytics-Association-Announces-2010-2011-Officers-and-Board-of-Directors-1259560.htm
President of the Software Association of Oregon says Webtrends is “definitely on
the upswing under CEO Alex Yoder.”
http://www.oregonbusiness.com/ben/3878-jobs-watch-innovation-from-a-to-z
Webtrends Hits Record Growth and Maintains Innovative Momentum: Experienced 85%
new business growth year over year for the six months ending June 2010
http://www.webtrends.com/AboutWebtrends/NewsRoom/NewsRoomArchive/2010/WebtrendsHitsRecordGrowthAndMaintainsInnovativeMomentum
Mashable Article: Webtrends Launches Analytics for Facebook
http://mashable.com/2010/02/25/webtrends-facebook-analytics/
Headshot of Alex Yoder
http://www.webtrends.com/upload/Photo_AlexYoder_HR.jpg
Webtrends Acquires Transpond
http://www.insidefacebook.com/2010/08/10/webtrends-acquires-transpond/
Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:
As CEO, Alex Yoder is responsible for worldwide operations and the overall
strategic vision of Webtrends.
Prior to his appointment as CEO, Yoder spent seven years serving in key
management positions at Webtrends, including vice president of sales, North
America. At Webtrends, he has successfully worked to expand the brand and
deliver business value to global enterprises. He has more than 20 years of
global business experience spanning leadership roles across sales, marketing and
operations. Yoder has served as vice president of sales for Touch Clarity, a
behavioral targeting company. He holds a BA in English literature from Whitman
College.