Acast announced its expansion into France. The French business will be led by Yann Thébault, former managing director of Continental Europe for Spotify, who joins Acast with the mission of establishing Acast France as the go-to podcast company locally.

This will include supporting independent publishers, working with media groups and brands on their audio strategies and helping to develop the French podcast market.

The launch of Acast in France is in response to the rapidly growing popularity of podcasts in the region, as well as demand for support for podcasters. According to Médiamétrie’s Écoute des Podcasts study (April 2018), over four million people in France listen to podcasts every month. 25% of these are new listeners to the medium.

Ross Adams, CEO of Acast said: “Launching in France is the natural next step for Acast – it’s a market where the appetite for podcasting from a creator, listener and advertising point of view is starting to explode. We have big plans – global expansion is a real focus for Acast in 2019 and beyond, as well as working with content in many different languages as possible. Yann’s rich experience and love for audio means he is the perfect person to take us into such an important market for Acast.”

Yann Thébault, managing director of Acast France said: “France is a dynamic market that has historically been known for its high radio consumption. The podcast market is now booming and represents a real growth opportunity for Acast. With our ability to address every need of both independent podcasters and publishers – including hosting, distribution, marketing, measurement and monetization – we are able to bring innovative and tailored solutions for podcasters, advertisers and listeners.”