lynda.com appoints Kaizo to support expansion across EMEA

Kaizo has been appointed by lynda.com, a leading online learning company, to deliver an integrated communications programme and support the company’s growth plans outside the United States. In 2013, lynda.com received $103million of private equity funding to expand globally. Kaizo’s appointment – and that of its German partner, HBI – is aligned to the company’s regional marketing and communications strategy under the leadership of Alex Zivoder, vice president and managing director, lynda.com EMEA. Zivoder joined lynda.com in October 2013 from Viagogo where he was COO/MD Europe

lynda.com is a leading online learning company offering individuals, businesses, public sector and government organisations access to a vast online library of more than 4,500 courses. As the undisputed market leader for online learning in North America lynda.com is gearing up to replicate that success in EMEA.

Through a subscription to lynda.com, members have access to a robust and curated collection of continuously updated courses taught by leading industry and subject matter experts. In addition to English, courses are also available in German, Spanish and French from video2brain – a lynda.com brand. Subjects range from management and leadership to software, photography and design skills.

Kaizo and HBI will deliver an integrated communications programme to increase lynda.com and video2brain brand awareness whilst increasing demand for course subscriptions through creative digital, social and PR activity. This will include driving visitors to two major exhibitions in September 2014 – Photokina in Cologne and GovtICT 2.0 in London.

Kaizo will report to Tariq Ahmed (pictured), head of communications EMEA at lynda.com, who said: ‘We chose Kaizo because they showed they understand what support an entrepreneurial, growth-oriented business needs. This includes a number of creative ideas that will help to bring our key differentiators to life. They also demonstrated how their approach to PR driven campaigns will dovetail nicely with our broader digital marketing activities.’

Kaizo will target a variety of different audiences in line with lynda.com’s vast array of specialised learning content. This will include: businesses of all sizes to help employees learn how to use a variety of software applications such as the Microsoft Office suite and web tools like WordPress, as well as develop professional skills; consumers for personal development such as becoming a great photographer; universities and schools to provide content that complements the offline curriculum and, government, reflecting the company’s special status as a G-Cloud approved supplier.

Crispin Manners, who will lead the lynda.com team at Kaizo said: ‘We have a reputation for delivering category leadership for our clients as a result of our work for the likes of Flip video, Fitbit and Truvia. We are very excited about establishing lynda.com as the clear category leader for online learning content. The lynda.com approach is optimised for the way people want to consume content today and enables them to be in control of what, when and where they learn.’

lynda.com helps anyone realise their potential and achieve personal and career ambitions by providing access to a unique range of high quality, current, and engaging video tutorials. Learning materials and videos are produced to incredibly high production standards and include content from experts who are passionate about their subject matter. Courses have already changed the lives of many, instilling self-confidence and unlocking a sense of accomplishment that they have not found anywhere else.

About lynda.com
lynda.com is a leading online learning company that helps anyone learn business, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Through individual, corporate, academic and government subscriptions, members have access to the lynda.com video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts. The company also provides German, French and Spanish language content under the video2brain brand name.

lynda.com, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Carpinteria, California with offices in San Francisco, London, Sydney and Graz and is funded in part by Accel Partners, Spectrum Equity and Meritech Capital Partners.

Learn more about the lynda.com story at www.lynda.com/press and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lynda

Media Contacts
Crispin Manners, Director Kaizo
+44 7774 774272
crispin.manners@kaizo.co.uk

Tariq Ahmed, Head of Communications EMEA
+44(0)207 868 2057
tahmed@lynda.com