MEF announces inaugural LATAM Board

Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF), the global trade body of the mobile media and entertainment industry, announced today the election results for its inaugural LATAM Board.

MEF’s LATAM Chapter was launched in November 2009 to accelerate the growth of mobile media & entertainment across the region by creating dialogue between the industry and regulators, as well as driving initiatives that promote best practice and sustainable business solutions. The newly elected board was elected to a two year term and consists of industry leaders across Latin America with expertise spanning the mobile, media, entertainment and services industries.

Ron Czerny, CEO of Playphone and Chairman of MEF LATAM, said: “I am delighted to be voted Chairman of MEF LATAM and welcome our very experienced board of directors, a group which represent the interests of the entire mobile entertainment value chain. We will be building upon MEF’s expertise in fostering collaboration between the industry and regulators to promote sustainable business models and ensure that regulation is proportional to protect and grow members’ revenues and safeguard consumers.”

Jorge Partidas, CEO of WAU Móvil and MEF LATAM Vice-Chair, added: “I look forward to working with the new Board to drive MEF initiatives which accelerate the uptake of innovative business models across the region whilst tapping into the unique opportunities of these vibrant markets.”

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director, commented: “LATAM is a key growth area for MEF and its members, with our latest Business Confidence Index indicating that Latin America’s share of the mobile entertainment market grew from 2% in December 2008 to 7% in December 2009. I have every confidence that the LATAM board will further accelerate growth and drive value for MEF LATAM’s members by creating new market entry opportunities, promoting sustainable business models to the market and tackling the challenges facing the industry across the region.”

MEF LATAM was launched with the support of 41 founding member companies: 2ergo, Abril, Acotel, Admin Ltd, Binbit, Blinck, Boltcel, Buongiorno, CFLA, Cleartech, Comfone, ComperaNtime, cVidya, Dada, Flycell, Getjar, Huawei, i-Free Brasil, Impact Mobile, KPMG, Mobile Intelligence, Mobint, NeoMobile, Nokia, Omnifone, PlayPhone, PureBros, RIM, Samsung, Silverstreet, Sony Music, Sony Pictures, SPB Software, Spring Wireless, Telefonica, TIM, TIMw.e., VIVO , Wau, Zed and Zero9 Brazil.

MEF LATAM Board 2010:

• Chairman: Ron Czerny - Founder & CEO, Playphone
• Vice-Chair: Jorge Partidas – Co-Founder & CEO, WAU Móvil

MEF LATAM Board Directors:

• Rafaela Furtado – Mobile Business Manager, Abril Digital
• Ana Paula Lima – Sales Director VAS, Spring Wireless
• Jose Mannis – Founder & General Manager, MOBINT
• Eric Nice – CEO, Arvato
• Paulo Pessoa – General Manager, TIM w.e
• Luca Ruju – General Manager, Zero9 Brazil
• Filippo Satolli – Regional Mobile Director LATAM BU Dada.net, Dada SpA
• Seth Schachner – Vice President, Digital Business, Latin Region, Sony Music Entertainment
• Pieter van Dijk – Partner, Advisory, Performance & Technology, KPMG
• Roberto Vila Nova - Strategy & Business Development, Director, Nokia

Filipe Roup Rosa is MEF LATAM General Manager.

Mobile Entertainment Forum expands to Latin America with launch in Brazil

• Ron Czerny to serve as Acting Chair & Filipe Roup Rosa joins as General Manager for MEF LATAM
• MEF LATAM to focus on issues of double-taxation and regulation
• 26 Founding Members announced - Founding membership open to LATAM companies until January 31, 2010 & MEF Board LATAM Elections to take place in February 2010

Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF), the global trade association of the mobile media industry, has announced the launch of its Latin America chapter (MEF LATAM) with an inaugural meeting in Sao Paulo that attracted over 100 companies across the value-chain last week. MEF LATAM’s mission will be to foster an environment conducive to driving mobile entertainment development across the region, by creating dialogue between the industry and regulators, as well as driving initiatives that promote best practices and sustainable business solutions.

MEF LATAM has already attracted 26 major companies as founding members, including 2ergo, Binbit, Blink, Boltcel, Buongiorno, Comfone, cVidya, Dada, Flycell, Fox Mobile Distribution, Getjar, Impact Mobile, KPMG, Masurlaw, NeoMobile, Nokia , Omnifone, PlayPhone , RIM , Silverstreet , Sony Music, Sony Pictures, SPB Software, Telefonica, TIM and Zed.

Ron Czerny, Acting Chair of MEF LATAM and CEO of Playphone said: “MEF provides a strong vehicle for the mobile entertainment industry as a whole to represent its interests through one coherent voice. The quality of the founding members is a great achievement for MEF LATAM which will serve as a source of strength for achieving solutions and clear results in the region.” During the meeting, Filipe Roup Rosa was announced as General Manager, MEF LATAM. He is based in Sao Paulo which will serve as the regional headquarters. Rosa highlighted that “the growth of mobile media in Latin America is exponential, but that speed has created gaps in regulation. MEF’s intention is to act strongly to address regulatory issues and tackle problems such as the tax burden on our industry with effective measures. We will also act quickly to elect the first regional board of MEF LATAM and implement the action plan set out by members.”

“MEF's international expertise in working with regulators, identifying sustainable business models and accelerating market entry opportunities will foster the growth of the industry and deliver competitive advantage to our members. These tools have made MEF successful worldwide and will form the core aspects of our work in LATAM."

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director

“Our goal is to foster collaboration between local regulators and our members. Underpinning the phenomenal growth in Brazil and the future success of the mobile entertainment industry is consumer trust in mobile media. Growth comes from having regulatory frameworks or Codes that are transparent, consistent in their application and proportionate to the harm they are trying to prevent.”

Suhail Bhat, MEF Policy and Initiatives Director

LATAM-MEF Founding Members
The MEF-LATAM group founding are: 2ergo, Binbit, Blink, Boltcel, Buongiorno, Comfone, cVidya, Dada, Flycell, Fox Mobile Distribution, Getjar, Impact Mobile, KPMG, Masurlaw, NeoMobile, Nokia , Omnifone, PlayPhone , RIM , Silverstreet , Sony Music, Sony Pictures, SPB Software, Telefonica, TIM and Zed.

Founding member status open until January 31, 2010.

Companies interested in becoming members should contact Filipe@m-e-f.org