CAMPBELL, Calif. – FriendFinder Networks has named mainstream marketing professional Kristell Perez director of affiliate marketing. Perez previously spent more than a decade with companies including Yahoo!, Cisco and AT&T.
“We’re thrilled to have Kristell coming on board with an insider’s experience and an outsider’s perspective that will allow us to implement fresh ideas as we continue moving FFN forward with an affiliate focus that serves our audience and our traffic partners exceptionally well,” said Chad Wehrmaker, senior director of digital marketing. “At FFN, we understand that we must never rest on our past success, and that’s why we continue to evolve and adapt as we elevate our brand to set even higher goals. Kristell is the right person to exceed those goals and a great person to work with on a day-to-day basis.”
Perez will be responsible for expanding the reach of all affiliate channels as well as optimizing current FFN affiliate accounts to maximize mutual opportunities.
“I have been in this industry for over ten years, starting with Yahoo!’s Search Marketing team,” Perez said. “I became the [senior marketing executive] for the Yahoo! Publisher Network, and before long was relocated to Sunnyvale [Calif.] in 2008 to join the Global Partnership team, responsible for ad revenue across top-tiered Yahoo! partners. In 2010, I accepted a new opportunity to join AT&T Interactive up in San Francisco and later chose to join Cisco as an affiliate program manager.
“My passion has always been working with affiliate channels and partners, and I see the terrific potential here at FFN,” she added. “I’m eager to take on the challenges ahead, and I’m excited to find ways to work together for the benefit of everyone in the FFN family.”
At nearly 20 years old, FFN operates one of the largest affiliate networks in the world. The company reports it has paid affiliate more than $600 million since its founding. Perez attributed the company’s success to two key components of the FFN affiliate philosophy.
“We continue to see our network grow because we are always willing to work with brand-new marketers and because we maintain strong relationships with our existing affiliates, including many of our original affiliate partners—which says a lot about our ethos,” she said. “Whether you are sending your first sale or sending your millionth sale to FFN, we value you and we want to assist you so that you can accelerate your growth even easier.
“I’m most looking forward to working with my team and developing even deeper roots with our affiliates, because I understand that as they grow, so do we,” she said.
Perez said the affiliate program is working on several improvements to benefit affiliates and end-users alike. In the coming months, the company plans to debut improvements to FFN users’ mobile experience, unique marketing campaigns and tools for affiliates, and new ways for cam models to expand their reach and explore new revenue channels on Cams.com.
