Observed Signal · May 22, 2019 · Hiring · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
The Trade Desk appoints Jonathan Carson CRO
The Trade Desk announced Jonathan Carson as its first Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), signaling a targeted push to accelerate revenue growth and client acquisition. Carson has over twenty years in digital media, including roles as CRO at Vevo, CEO of Digital at Nielsen, and co-founder/CEO of BuzzMetrics, which Nielsen later acquired. In his new role, he will lead revenue generation and the acquisition of new clients, while overseeing the company’s development and growth. The move also references expansion into new markets such as China and revenue growth through channels like Connected TV. Jeff Green, founder and CEO of The Trade Desk, welcomed Carson to the executive team, highlighting his deep digital media experience and focus on expanding share in the global digital advertising market. Carson will report directly to Green and is expected to help grow The Trade Desk’s customer base among leading marketers and agencies.
Executive appointment signaling potential growth and market expansion (China, CTV).
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- The Trade Desk named Jonathan Carson as its first Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).
- Carson previously served as CRO at Vevo.
- Carson formerly led Digital at Nielsen and co-founded BuzzMetrics, which Nielsen acquired.
- He will lead revenue generation and new client acquisition, and oversee development and growth.
- Carson will report directly to Jeff Green, founder and CEO of The Trade Desk.
Connected Companies & Entities
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The Trade Desk Hires Vinny Rinaldi as VP, Client Strategy
The Trade Desk announced the appointment of Vinny Rinaldi as Vice President of Client Strategy & Growth. Rinaldi will report to COO Vivek Kundra and will work with brands and agencies to drive growth through data-driven advertising across channels including connected TV, retail media and digital audio. He joins from The Hershey Company, where he was Vice President of Consumer Connections, and previously held roles at Amazon, Google, GroupM and Dentsu. Rinaldi starts on July 27, 2026. The hire follows other recent senior appointments at The Trade Desk as the company strengthens its leadership team for future growth amid increased AI-driven advertising activity.
Trade Desk Outlines Vision, Urges New CMO Profile
The Trade Desk reported Q1 2026 revenue of $689 million, a 12% year-over-year increase that beat revenue estimates but represented its slowest growth rate since the 2020 Covid ad downturn. The company posted adjusted EBITDA of $206 million (30% margin) but missed on earnings per share and gave lackluster Q2 guidance, prompting a roughly 15% drop in after-hours trading. Management highlighted growth in connected TV, audio/video and news products, and said it is piloting AI-powered, agentic media-planning agents with Stagwell. The report and investor call also referenced ongoing talks with Publicis. CEO Jeff Green emphasized agentic AI use in campaign creation and reiterated strategic priorities for programmatic transparency and advertiser-first buying.
The Trade Desk Appoints Sarah Gavin as CMO, EVP
The Trade Desk named Sarah Gavin as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, effective June 15, 2026. Based in the company’s Bellevue office, Gavin will lead global brand, communications, customer marketing and demand generation and will report directly to CEO and Founder Jeff Green. Gavin previously served as Chief Communications Officer and Interim Chief Marketing Officer at Zendesk, led global narrative strategy for Google Cloud, and held senior communications roles at Expedia Group. The appointment follows The Trade Desk’s recent hire of CFO Nate Olmstead. Anna Sayre, who served as Interim Chief Marketing Officer during the transition, will return to her role as Senior Vice President of Global Brand Marketing.
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