Retail Media Innovator Melanie Zimmermann joins Criteo to Lead its Global Retail Media Practice

Rhea-AI Summary

Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO) appoints Melanie Zimmermann to lead global retail media practice and welcomes Stephen Howard-Sarin as Managing Director of Retail Media in the Americas

Market Research Analyst

With the appointment of Melanie Zimmermann as General Manager, Global Retail Media, Criteo is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on the burgeoning retail media market. Zimmermann's proven track record at Macy's, where she spearheaded the development of Macy's Media Network, indicates an experienced hand at the helm of Criteo's global retail media endeavors. This move is poised to enhance Criteo's sales strategy and client support, potentially leading to increased market share and revenue growth.

The retail media sector is rapidly expanding, with McKinsey projecting a significant rise in ad spending, reaching $100 billion by 2026. Criteo's investment in leadership with a strong background in this domain suggests a deliberate focus on capturing a larger slice of this growing pie. The impact on Criteo's business could manifest in the form of new advertiser partnerships, enhanced product offerings and innovative solutions that cater to an evolving digital advertising landscape.

Digital Advertising Specialist

The strategic hire of Stephen Howard-Sarin as Managing Director of Retail Media in the Americas complements Zimmermann's global role, focusing on expanding Criteo's retail media footprint within a key geographic market. Howard-Sarin's extensive experience with companies such as Instacart, eBay Ads and Walmart Connect underscores Criteo's commitment to amplifying its presence in the Americas. His expertise could drive regional growth, align with global strategies and tailor Criteo's offerings to the unique demands of American retailers and advertisers.

Furthermore, the burgeoning commerce media space, which McKinsey estimates could generate over $1.3 trillion in enterprise value, represents a transformative opportunity for Criteo. By leveraging Howard-Sarin's depth of experience, Criteo could refine its product strategy, enhance its competitive edge and deliver more targeted and effective advertising solutions that resonate with the American market.

Financial Analyst

The strategic appointments of Zimmermann and Howard-Sarin signal to investors Criteo's aggressive pursuit of growth in the retail media space. With McKinsey's forecast of substantial growth in commerce media, Criteo's stock could see positive movement as investors anticipate the company's potential to seize a significant portion of this market. Zimmermann's and Howard-Sarin's past successes in similar roles provide a credible basis for optimism regarding the execution of Criteo's expanded strategy.

Criteo's focus on building a strong leadership team with deep expertise in retail media is likely to attract investor attention as a proactive measure to stay ahead in a competitive industry. However, the true test will be in the execution of their global and regional strategies and the tangible impact on Criteo's financial performance. Investors will be watching closely for signs of increased revenue, improved market positioning and successful product innovations that could result from these appointments.

Company also welcomes Stephen Howard-Sarin to lead Retail Media in the Americas and round out its roster of retail media talent

NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO), the commerce media company, today announced the appointment of Melanie Zimmermann to lead its global retail media practice. As General Manager, Global Retail Media, she will be responsible for further building and scaling Criteo's retail media business and developing its sales strategy worldwide to better support evolving client needs and solidify Criteo's leading position in commerce media.

Zimmermann comes to Criteo from Macy's, where she successfully built Macy's Media Network, the company's retail media network that reaches more than 46 million customers across Macy's and Bloomingdale's and influences more than 440 million transactions online and in-store. In her most recent role as VP, Head of Macy's Media Network, she was responsible for developing and executing strategy and leading all retail media operations from media planning, sales, campaign management and analytics.

At Criteo, Zimmermann will report to Chief Revenue Officer Brian Gleason and her team will be in charge of driving the global vision and strategy of Criteo's retail media practice and forging alignment across regions. She will also play a pivotal role in retail media product strategy and prioritization, closely connecting commercial needs and product development.

Zimmermann's hire comes on the heels of Stephen Howard-Sarin's appointment as Managing Director of Retail Media in the Americas in December 2023. Most recently at Instacart as VP and General Manager of Retail Media, Howard-Sarin brings to Criteo over a dozen years of retail media experience with leadership positions at eBay Ads and Walmart Connect. His focus is on building and growing Criteo's retail media footprint with advertisers and retailers in the Americas and reports to Sherry Smith, Executive Managing Director, Americas.

"As we continue to evolve alongside the industry, we're excited to expand our deep bench of retail media talent with the addition of two key industry leaders. Melanie has an impressive track record of building and scaling a high-performing retail media network. Her experience at Macy's kept her at the forefront of innovation and will be a key asset as we help unify an ecosystem that's poised for a new stage of growth," said Brian Gleason, CRO, Criteo. "In addition, I am confident that Stephen's diversified experience leading retail media teams for the last decade will help grow our footprint and continue to transform the business in the Americas."

According to McKinsey, commerce media could generate over $1.3 trillion of enterprise value in the U.S. alone, positioning it to transform the world of digital advertising in a manner not seen since the rise of programmatic. Retail media as a subcomponent of that category is expected to generate $100 billion in ad spending by 2026.

"With its massive global retailer footprint and thousands of brand advertiser partners, Criteo is not only a pioneer in retail media, but it's also constantly evolving its unique position by tapping into strategic growth areas and building solutions to create an ecosystem that drives the most value for retailers, brands, and agencies," said Zimmermann. "I'm excited to join the company as it continues to develop solutions for its clients' specific needs and help them reach their full potential with retail media."

Zimmermann started her career in consulting with Bain & Company in Europe before joining Macy's in 2013, where she held different leadership positions including corporate strategy over the last 10 years. With both hires, Criteo expands its roster of executives with deep industry expertise to further shape the future of commerce media.

About Criteo

Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO) is the global commerce media company that enables marketers and media owners to drive better commerce outcomes. Its industry leading Commerce Media Platform connects thousands of marketers and media owners to deliver richer consumer experiences from product discovery to purchase. By powering trusted and impactful advertising, Criteo supports an open internet that encourages discovery, innovation, and choice. For more information, please visit www.criteo.com.

Media Contacts

Criteo Public Relations
Florian Herzing, f.herzing@criteo.com  

Criteo Investor Relations
Melanie Dambre, m.dambre@criteo.com

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SOURCE Criteo

FAQ

Who has Criteo appointed to lead its global retail media practice?

Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO) has appointed Melanie Zimmermann to lead its global retail media practice.

Who is the new Managing Director of Retail Media in the Americas at Criteo?

Stephen Howard-Sarin is the new Managing Director of Retail Media in the Americas at Criteo.

Where did Melanie Zimmermann work before joining Criteo?

Before joining Criteo, Melanie Zimmermann worked at Macy's, where she successfully built Macy's Media Network.

What is the expected ad spending for retail media by 2026?

Retail media as a subcomponent of commerce media is expected to generate $100 billion in ad spending by 2026.

What is the enterprise value that commerce media could generate in the U.S. according to McKinsey?

According to McKinsey, commerce media could generate over $1.3 trillion of enterprise value in the U.S. alone.