This week’s people moves include HubSpot, APMA, Genius Sports, Fanatics, Flutter Entertainment, Netflix, Omnicom and WPP.
HubSpot is to axe roughly 7% of its workforce, which is around 660 employees.
The layoffs come as the marketing software company looks to shift its strategy towards delivering customer needs through AI.
Chief executive, Yamini Rangan, broke the news to staff on Tuesday, saying HubSpot needs to change its business structure as it moves toward an AI-driven model.
The cuts will see the company move to a more flatter structure with fewer management lawyers. It said this will allow it to concentrate resources based on priorities.
Other notable people moves
Fanatics: Eric Berman as VP commercial strategy and operations
Eric Berman has been named as Fanatics new vice president of commercial strategy and operations.
He joins from Netflix, where he spent over three years building its advertising business. His most recent position was senior director, global head of ads revenue and yield analytics.
He wrote on LinkedIn: “I spent the past 3+ years helping build Netflix Ads from the ground up, and I’m grateful to have led a wonderful, talented team across the globe. I was given an amazing opportunity to learn and grow in new ways every day, alongside some of the best in the business, and now it’s time for my next chapter.
“As a passionate sports fan and collector, I’m excited by how uniquely positioned Fanatics is to bring fans together across commerce, collectibles, live events, content, betting and more. This checks a lot of personal and professional boxes for me, and it’s rare to get to combine what you love with the work you do. We’re entering a new era in the sports marketplace, and I’m pumped to be along for the ride!”
AMPA: Chair hands over the reigns
Helen Southgate, chair of the Affiliate and Partner Marketing Association’s (APMA) governance board is handing the baton to David Ayre.
Southgate made the announcement on LinkedIn: “I’ve had the privilege of chairing the Board since APMA was established, and it’s been brilliant to see how far we’ve come. We’ve built strong foundations and brought together some fantastic people from across the industry.”
She added the she will continue to support APMA as a member of the governance board.
Genius Sports: Gabrielle Trovato as VP of growth marketing
Gabrielle Trovato has joined Genius Sports as vice president of growth marketing.
She joins after having held positions as head of commercial activation and growth at DeepIntent and vice president of integrated marketing at Integral Ad Science.
FairPlay Sports Media: Hannah Buitekant as CGO
FairPlay Sports Media (FPSM), the company behind the Oddschecker odds comparison site, has named Hannah Buitekant as its chief growth officer.
Buitekant has been tasked with the leading execution of the firm’s growth strategy for both its media partners and igaming operators.
She will take a leading role in building FPSM’s go-to-market engine, as well as overseeing customer success, account management and product sales capabilities as the firm looks to enter new markets and sports verticals.
DAZN: Harry Hesp joins
DAZN has appointed Harry Hesp as vice president of marketing of global football.
He wrote on Linkedin: “A new role, a global remit and a huge opportunity to grow audiences, reach new fans and find new ways to build fandom.”
VaynerMedia: Two senior promotions
VaynerMedia has promoted Nick Wessman as its director, media buying and Elijah Keys to vice president.
Keys (pictured left) joined VaynerMedia in 2018 as a media analyst and has worked his way up through roles as a manager, director, and now vice president.
While Wessman joined in 2021 as media buying and planning resident.
Google: Laura Rowan has head of brand
Laura Rowan is starting a new role as head of brand and creative strategy, Google Cloud at Google.
She joins from Widen + Kennedy, where she was chief strategy officer for the past two and half years.
Flutter Entertainment: Neil Banbury as MD
Neil Banbury has been named managing director of Sky Betting & Gaming (SBG) at Flutter Entertainment.
Prior to this, he worked at Kindred for almost 16 years, before taking six months out to travel with his family.
He wrote on LinkedIn: “[…] It’s a tough moment for UK gambling but SBG has great brands, the backing of Flutter, and a brilliant team that really understands its customers. That’s a great mix to work with.
“This new start closes my Kindred and FDJ chapter. I spent 15½ years there, joining as an analyst and leaving as a member of the executive team. I really can’t do justice to that experience in a LinkedIn post. Needless to say I owe a huge amount to the team there for their trust, their challenge, and for making it such a fun ride.”
Netflix: Caroline Farley joins as senior director
Caroline Farley has joined Netflix as a senior director of publicity for the UK and EMEA.
Farley has previously held roles at Walt Disney as director of communications, and Red Havas as managing partner.
Starcom: Kristen Mascarenhas is group head
Kristen Mascarenhas has joined Starcom as group head, following a stint as associate vice president of client services at WPP.
She previously worked at Mindshare as director of the Exchange.
Spotify: New hires join advertising business
Spotify hired Heidi Andersen as senior vice president, advertising. Prior to this role, Andersen was with The Consello Group as senior managing director.
The audio streaming platform has also appointed Jade Walton as agency development lead. Walton joins from TikTok, where she spent more than five years with her most recent role being director of business development, EMEA, global media and licensing partnerships
PubX: Rob Brett as director of publisher acquisition
PubX has appointed Rob Brett as director of publisher acquisition.
Prior to joining PubX, Brett spent more than seven years as director at My Ads Solutioins.
Taboola: Atul Ssharma as director of finance
Atul Ssharma has joined adtech firm, Taboola, as director of finance. Previously, he spent twelve years at Adobe as group manager of finance shared service operation management.
He wrote in a LinkedIn post: “At Taboola, I have the exciting opportunity to again bring that passion to life by building a world-class Finance Shared Service Centre from the ground up.”
PMG: Two new senior hires
PMG has promoted Kyle Phillips from paid search director to senior media director, and hired Brenndan O’Connor as programmatic director.
Omnicom: Max Penny-Barrow as programmatic associate director
Omnicom Media has hired Max Penny-Barrow as its programmatic associate director.
Penny-Barrow joins from Zenith, where he was programmatic manager. He will be working across the Volvo account in EMEA.
WPP: Global CCO joins executive committee
WPP has appointed Adam Gerhart as its global chief client officer and will join the holding company’s executive committee.
Gerhart has been at WPP for more than 20 years and served most recently as the global chief client officer for WPP Media. He will report to chief operating officer Devika Bulchandani.
Mars: Emily Tan as global vice president of category strategy
Emily Tan has started a new position as global vice president of category strategy at Mars.
She wrote on LinkedIn: “Throughout my career, I have always been passionate about leveraging category insights and strategy to elevate marketplace and& customer partnership. I am looking forward to diving into this next chapter.”
Doubleverify: Jaime Valdes as senior group director
DoubleVerify has promoted Jaime Valdes to senior group director.
He joined the company as a sales director in 2019, and has worked his way up.
Brave Bison: Sian Dalton as product lead
Brave Bison has appointed Sian Dalton as product lead, a newly created role within its product and technology team.
Dalton’s remit will see her focus on value and accountability for the commercial and operational outcomes at the agency.
The appointment forms part of Brave Bison’s continued investment in its product capability, with Dalton’s newly created role bringing greater ownership of how group and business-unit priorities are translated into delivery across the agency group.
Diegeo: Joy Armitage as global head of marketing data sourcing
Joy Armitage has joined Diageo as global head of marketing data sourcing.
She will be leading the global strategy for data that powers marketing intelligence across planning, insights, media, content and marketing effectiveness.
