The Trade Desk has appointed Sarah Gavin as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, effective June 15, to strengthen its market presence and advance its vision for the open internet. Gavin will oversee the company's marketing organization, including global brand, communications, customer marketing, and demand generation efforts. She will be based in the Bellevue office and report directly to CEO and Founder Jeff Green.

Gavin brings extensive experience from her tenure as Chief Communications Officer and Interim Chief Marketing Officer at Zendesk, where she contributed to the company's transformation into an AI-powered customer service leader. Previously, she led global narrative strategy for Google Cloud, positioning the business at the forefront of the generative AI era. She also spent over a decade at Expedia Group as Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Brand, guiding the company through significant growth.

"The future of advertising will be shaped by marketers who embrace innovation, transparency, and the full potential of the open internet," said Jeff Green, CEO and Founder of The Trade Desk. "Sarah combines world-class marketing and communications expertise with a deep understanding of technology and business strategy. I'm excited to welcome Sarah to The Trade Desk as we continue to expand our leadership position."

Gavin's appointment follows the recent hiring of Chief Financial Officer Nate Olmstead, highlighting The Trade Desk's continued investment in leadership to support its long-term growth strategy. 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.

Key Leadership Changes

The Trade Desk has appointed David Haddad to its board of directors, adding over three decades of media and entertainment leadership experience to the advertising technology company. The appointment is effective immediately, with Haddad set to provide strategic guidance as the industry evolves. His extensive background in scaling global businesses is expected to bolster the board's oversight during a critical phase of growth for the company.

Jeff Green, CEO and Co-Founder of The Trade Desk, highlighted the value Haddad brings to the board. Green stated that Haddad's operational excellence and deep media expertise will be invaluable as the industry enters its next chapter. He emphasized that Haddad's understanding of how premium content creates value will support the company's mission to build technology that funds and preserves a vibrant open internet.

Haddad most recently spent more than a decade at Warner Bros. Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. During his tenure, he held several leadership positions, culminating in his role as President of WB Games. Prior to his time at Warner Bros., he served as Chief Operating Officer of Activision Blizzard and held senior leadership roles at Vivendi Games, Mattel, and Disney.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Haddad commended The Trade Desk for creating a transparent and effective advertising ecosystem. He stated that he is honored to join the board and looks forward to supporting the company as it continues to grow, innovate, and create value for its clients, partners, and shareholders. Haddad holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Miami University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

David Haddad's Professional Background

The Trade Desk is a technology company that empowers buyers of advertising through its self-service, cloud-based platform. The company is headquartered in Ventura, CA, with offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.