Maybe EDIG could encorporate an advertising angle...

Former Southwest boss joins Jetera

November 20, 2008

Jim Parker, former chief executive of Southwest Airlines, has joined the board of US inflight targeted advertising provider Jetera.

Launched with much fanfare in 2006, Connecticut-based Jetera has been promising big things for some time. It finally secured a commitment from a major IFE player in September, when Thales Avionics announced that it had signed up to add Jetera’s software to its TopSeries AVOD system.

“We expect that our joint efforts will enable us to give the airlines a very attractive way to integrate advertising into their IFE systems,” said Alan Pellegrini, general manager of Thales’ inflight entertainment business.

Jetera’s core product is the Targeted Content Delivery System, designed to support insertion, delivery, targeting, financial reconciliation, analysis and other aspects of online advertising campaigns. The new capability – based on Web 2.0 technology - is due to be commercially available from next year.

Majority-owned by Venture Capital and Consulting Group, Jetera is currently completing a new round of funding. “Jim’s commitment means we now have a robust board, a superior targeted advertising product, a talented and agile team, and enduring strategic partnerships,” says chief executive Jeff McChesney.

Parker served as CEO at the world’s first low-fare airline in 2001-04, having previously worked for 15 years as the carrier’s general counsel. During his tenure Southwest was named by Fortune magazine as the most admired airline in the USA and one of the three most admired companies.