Observed Signal · Sep 17, 2026 · Hiring · Source: Adweek · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Todd Parsons Named CEO of Blackstone-Owned Prodege
Todd Parsons, former Chief Product Officer at Criteo, will become CEO of Prodege, a Blackstone-backed consumer insights firm, starting October 1. Prodege operates a panel of over 125 million consumers and powers loyalty programs like Swagbucks, MyPoints, and InboxDollars. Parsons is expected to leverage his AI expertise from Criteo, where he oversaw the development of AI tools including a Model Context Protocol, to enhance Prodege's market research offerings. The appointment marks a significant leadership change for the company, which provides consumer feedback to CPG brands, commerce companies, and game developers.
Relevant leadership change in consumer insights space, with potential AI-driven innovation, but limited direct impact on adtech operations.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Todd Parsons has been named CEO of Prodege, starting October 1.
- Prodege is backed by Blackstone and runs a consumer panel of over 125 million members.
- Prodege powers loyalty programs for Swagbucks, MyPoints, and InboxDollars.
- Parsons previously served as Chief Product Officer at Criteo, where he developed AI tools and retail media products.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“Todd Parsons is joining marketing insights firm Prodege as CEO.”
“Blackstone-backed Prodege runs a panel of more than 125 million consumers.”
“Before joining Prodege, Parsons was chief product officer at Criteo.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Prodege Appoints Todd Parsons Chief Executive Officer
Prodege, a consumer marketing and insights platform, announced the appointment of Todd Parsons as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026. Parsons previously served as Chief Product Officer and President of Performance Media at Criteo, where he helped advance commerce, first-party data, and AI capabilities. He will lead Prodege's next chapter, focusing on AI-driven consumer engagement and leveraging Prodege's community of more than 125 million people.
AppLovin, Unity Surge While Criteo, Taboola Decline in Q3
In Q3 2026, ad tech earnings revealed a stark divide: AppLovin and Unity posted strong growth, while Criteo, Taboola, and Teads saw revenue declines. AppLovin's revenue rose 55% to $2.19 billion, with net income up 72% to $1.44 billion, and its revenue alone surpassed the combined revenue of the other five companies. Unity's revenue grew 32% to $622 million, with its Vector ad platform surging 126% year-over-year. Magnite reported a 14% revenue increase to $204.2 million, driven by CTV growth. Conversely, Criteo's revenue fell 11% to $416 million, Taboola declined 6.9% to $462.3 million, and Teads dropped 26% to $235.1 million. CTV remained a bright spot for Magnite and Teads, but was insufficient to offset broader declines. The results highlight the ongoing shift toward mobile and CTV, while the open web struggles.
Criteo Earnings Show Retail Media Maturity, New Channels Grow
Criteo reported Q3 2026 results with revenue down 12% year-over-year to $416 million, and profit falling from $40 million to $6 million. Despite challenges, the company highlights growth in new channels: CTV, LLM-based AI platforms (notably ChatGPT Ads), and social media integrations like TikTok Shop and Meta. These channels now represent 13% of spend in Criteo Commerce Growth, up from 6% a year ago. CEO Michael Komasinski emphasized the expansion into 89 countries for ChatGPT Ads, with traffic spending 15% more per visit. The company also positions itself as resilient against Apple's privacy changes, citing its diversification. Investors question whether retail media is maturing, but Criteo sees opportunities in performance CTV and emerging AI-driven advertising. The company remains focused on building sticky revenue streams beyond its legacy display business.
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