The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) recently selected former Nuance Communicatons Inc. executive Mike Wehrs as its new president. For those who don’t know, the MMA is a mobile industry organization comprised of members from all areas of the mobile value chain. Their mission statement describes them as,
“an action-oriented association designed to clear obstacles to market development, to establish guidelines and best practices for sustainable growth, and to evangelize the mobile channel for use by brands and third party content providers.”
I’ve always felt they did a servicable enough job in such a fragmented industry (in the US). The selection of Wehrs was announced only days ago and I intended to withold any comment, but am going to have to say something after reading some remarks by him today.
I approve of Mike Wehrs.
First some context; The Center for Digital Democracy and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint today calling for an inquiry and injunctive relief concerning unfair and deceptive mobile marketing practices,calling for federal regulation to rein in mobile marketing practices the organizations deem “unfair” and “deceptive” to handset users.
Wehrs shot back,
“If you read the filing in detail — and I have — you see certain types of comments and platitudes, but nothing specific,” he said. “There’s not a single (example) of where something has gone wrong.
“The industry needs to be held accountable to behave responsibly. If the industry doesn’t behave responsibly there needs to be an escalation path. But I think we have indicated we are behaving responsibly.”
I like how he injects a bit of attitude into his words, while still sounding diplomatic. He’s essentially calling their accusations biased, meaningless, and trite.
Good for him.
So often leaders soften their words in favor of pc-sounding dribble. I hope he keeps it up. Sometimes people rally around a lightening rod and that might be just what this fragmented industry of warring players (more like factions) needs. Better us joining “together against the world” than fighting each other for an extra dollar. I’m looking forward to hearing more of what he has to say.
