Tod Sacerdoti, CEO and Founder of BrightRoll, Inc., Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 National Media, Entertainment and Communications Award Winner

Sacerdoti was honored for steadfast vision, exceptional innovation and ability to transform an industry

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Nov 17, 2014, 08:00 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Tod Sacerdoti, CEO and founder of BrightRoll, Inc., has been named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 National Media, Entertainment and Communications Award winner. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, a leading business award for entrepreneurs, encourages entrepreneurial activity and recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses.

Sacerdoti was recognized for disrupting the online video industry by creating a fully automated exchange to connect buyers and sellers on a video advertising network. He was honored at the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards gala, the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum® in Palm Springs, Calif. The Forum is the nation's premier gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Awards were given in 10 additional categories.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges and from more than 250 regional award recipients.

"We are pleased to honor Tod Sacerdoti with this esteemed award and credit him for his vision to see the shift in the way people consume video early on and deciding to develop a viable, scalable way to monetize digital video content," said Mike Kacsmar, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Americas Program Director. "His entrepreneurial vision has led the company to be one of the world's most profitable video advertising platforms today."

From concept to creation
Within the last decade, a fundamental shift in consumer behavior around video consumption has occurred. Digital devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets and connected TVs are now serving as the foundation for consumer engagement. Consumers have moved away from traditional TV and turned to digital devices to view video content.

Recognizing this shift in 2006, Sacerdoti acknowledged that a technology challenge existed. At the time, there wasn't a way to successfully and efficiently monetize this content. But viewers would continue turning to digital means, and thus the idea for BrightRoll was born. Today, Sacerdoti's company builds technology that improves and automates video advertising globally.

As the market opportunity for video advertising continues to flourish, BrightRoll does, too. The company is one of the most recognized in the digital advertising business, and its technology platform is used by every segment of the video ecosystem. This is due, in large part, to Sacerdoti's ability to anticipate what is coming next and constantly innovate. BrightRoll has been able to compete and stay ahead of some of the largest and best-funded technology companies in the industry.

"Empowering our employees to be innovators is one of the reasons we've enjoyed so much success," Sacerdoti said. "A transparent and open culture is vitally important to me so every employee has the ability to contribute."

Culture, impact and giving back
Making a difference in the community means affecting employees in the right way, according to Sacerdoti. Each quarter, BrightRoll has a companywide "HAX Day" where employees are encouraged to team up with others outside their department to work on a project of their own choosing to benefit the industry, company or fellow employees. Projects range from a variety of initiatives, but one in particular has taken special importance. "BGood," an ongoing community outreach program that organizes, encourages and supports giving back to the community, has helped employees remain engaged and allows them to volunteer their time to various causes such as Habitat for Humanity. Giving back to the community is an integral part of company culture.

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 National Media, Entertainment and Communications finalists
In addition to Sacerdoti, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Media, Entertainment and Communications finalists in the US were: Lew Dickey, Chairman and CEO of Cumulus Media, Inc., based in Atlanta, Ga.; Josef Gorowitz, CEO of Prodege, LLC/Swagbucks, based in El Segundo, Calif.; and Ned Taleb and Nabil Taleb, co-founders of Nexius Solutions, based in Allen, Texas.

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 National Overall Award winner
Dr. David Hung of Medivation was named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 National Overall Award winner.

Video and photos
To view photos of all of the Entrepreneur Of The Year winners, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy/

Sponsors
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early stage, venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/sgm or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, an EY member firm serving clients in the US.

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