"We are thrilled our submissions to the competition, Portrait and Pushdown, have been recognized as official IAB standard ad units," said Greg Rogers, Senior Vice President, Premium Formats, AOL, and CEO, Pictela. "This acknowledgment shows the IAB is committed to driving online brand advertising forward via ad formats that provide marketers the palettes they need to fully convey their brand stories."

The IAB, which has been the standard-setting body for interactive advertising formats since 1997, called upon the industry last year to develop new creative standard ad units that would help transform brand marketing on the Web. AOL accepted the IAB's challenge and has continued to modify its advertising offerings to suit the needs of brand marketers.
Since the launch of Project Devil in September 2010, over 120 advertisers have run more than 500 campaigns using Premium Formats across AOL and the Advertising.com network.

"Our engagement metrics market leading, making Premium Formats a win-win-win for advertisers, publishers and consumers alike," Rogers said.

About AOL:
Having helped millions of Americans to get online, AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) is on a mission to inform, entertain and connect the world. The home of a world-class collection of premium brands, AOL creates original content that engages audiences on a local and global scale. We help marketers connect with these audiences through effective and engaging digital advertising solutions.