SpotX has hired Affiperf co-founder Sebastian Robin as its managing director in France.

Robin, who will be based in Paris, will join the video ad serving platform charged with growing its European operations and driving the commercial success of the business.

He leaves behind the Havas-owned trading desk that he co-founded in 2010 having held the role of chief operations officer at Affiperf for the last four years.

He will report to UK and Southern Europe MD Leon Siotis with Robin set to recruit and oversee a team that will help media owners across the country utilize its programmatic moneytisation and video ad-serving product, including connected TV.

“I have always been interested in automation, harnessing technology to improve customer service and effectiveness from the early days of my career," said Robin.

"Programmatic video is the most exciting part of the industry and this move is a logical next step for me. I’m pleased to be working with such a strong team of people, whom I have known for many years, and who are taking such a collaborative approach to working with the media industry in Europe. I am looking forward to combining the skills I have learned over the past twenty years in advertising to manage a P&L again and drive more success for French broadcasters, media owners and advertisers," he continued.

Siotis described the French media scene as "forward thinking" and added that a high proportion of ad spend was done programmatically. He also described the video landscape in the country as "mature."

He added: "Robin is the expert on growing a business in the region. He has solid buy- and supply-side experience and has worked alongside many of our existing clients and partners before, making him perfectly placed to support them, as well as expand and drive further success for them and SpotX in France.”

Robin will take up the new position from August.