Anthony Kennada, CEO and Co-Founder of AudiencePlus
Overview
Name: Anthony Kennada
Current Position: CEO and Co-Founder at AudiencePlus
LinkedIn Profile: [Anthony Kennada - LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/akennada)
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Education: Pepperdine University
Notable Achievements: Top Product Marketing Mentor List 2021, Product Marketing AMA Contributor
Professional Background
Anthony Kennada is a seasoned executive in the B2B SaaS sector with a rich history in marketing leadership. He co-founded AudiencePlus in 2022, a company designed to elevate marketing teams by enabling them to control their audience through owned media.
Before establishing AudiencePlus, Kennada held pivotal roles including:
- CMO at Hopin
- CMO at Front
- Founding CMO at Gainsight
- Sales and Partnerships roles at Box
During his tenure at Gainsight, the company saw remarkable growth, pioneering what is now known as the "Customer Success" profession.
Experience and Insights
Kennada's experience is firmly rooted in reshaping B2B marketing practices. He does not adhere strictly to traditional playbooks but innovatively draws from B2C marketing strategies. He emphasizes the importance of community building and leveraging content in various forms (e.g., video, podcasts, live events) to foster audience engagement.
Key Highlights:
1. Fundraising: AudiencePlus secured a $7.3M round of financing, led by Emergence Capital as of September 2024.
2. Hiring Expansion: Actively expanding the team, with multiple high-level positions available, emphasizing the company's rapid growth phase.
3. Thought Leadership: Known for publishing engaging content on the importance of brand and product marketing, and discussing new marketing methodologies, including inbound-led outbound strategies.
Key Articles and Publications
1. On Community and Marketing: [What Marketers Get Wrong About Community](https://audienceplus.com/discover/what-marketers-get-wrong-about-community)
2. Fundraising and Strategic Insights: [AudiencePlus Raises $7M](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/akennada_audienceplus-raises-7m-to-enable-marketing-activity-7239287640712232961-NTbf)
3. Personal Insights on Marketing: Frequently posts on LinkedIn about marketing strategies and company updates.
4. Interview: [AudiencePlus and the New B2B Go-To-Market](https://velocitypartners.com/blog/audienceplus-and-the-new-b2b-go-to-market-an-interview-with-ceo-and-founder-anthony-kennada/)
Marketing Philosophy
Kennada advocates for an evolved marketing strategy:
- Brand Storytelling: Integrates storytelling at all funnel stages, emphasizing the "why" in brand marketing and the "who, what, and how" in product marketing.
- Engagement and Community Building: Prioritizes meaningful engagement through high-quality content and community events, fostering emotional connections with the audience.
- Subscription-Centric Approach: Champions a model where content quality leads to higher subscription rates, vastly improving conversion and engagement metrics compared to traditional outbound strategies.
Social Media Presence
- LinkedIn: Active and influential; used for professional insights, company announcements, and thought leadership.
- Instagram and Twitter: Shares personal and professional updates, focusing on marketing strategies and B2B insights.
Conclusion
Anthony Kennada is a forward-thinking leader in the B2B marketing landscape. His innovative approach, proven track record, and strategic insights position AudiencePlus as a transformative player in Martech SaaS. Engaging with him provides access to deep expertise in community-centric marketing and the forefront of owned media strategies.
