Teads (NASDAQ: TEAD) named Dani Cushion chief marketing officer effective January 6, 2026, positioning the former Innovid marketing executive to lead global brand strategy for the omnichannel advertising platform. The appointment marks the second major executive hire in two months following Mollie Spilman's November arrival as chief commercial officer.
Cushion assumes responsibility for Teads' marketing organization across more than 30 countries, overseeing brand development, communications, and go-to-market initiatives for the open internet platform. Her mandate includes accelerating growth across a network of more than 10,000 publishers and 20,000 advertisers that rely on Teads' predictive AI technology for full-funnel advertising outcomes.
The former Innovid CMO brings connected TV expertise and corporate milestone experience to Teads' leadership team. At Innovid, she helped position the CTV advertising company for its Mediaocean acquisition. Previous roles include guiding Cardlytics through its IPO and public company expansion, plus contributing to Millennial Media's IPO and subsequent AOL/Verizon Media acquisition.
"Teads sits at the center of some of the most important innovations in ad tech," Cushion said in the announcement, citing significant opportunities in the evolving connected TV market. "With its technology, global scale, and multi-screen reach, Teads is uniquely positioned to help brands and publishers navigate a rapidly changing ecosystem."
CEO David Kostman emphasized Cushion's track record translating complex industry dynamics into actionable marketing strategies. "Dani has a proven ability to drive real business results across CTV and the open internet," Kostman said. "Her impact at some of the most important companies in the industry speaks for itself."
The New York-based company employs nearly 1,800 people worldwide and operates one of the most scaled advertising platforms on the open internet. Teads' technology leverages predictive AI to connect premium media with context-driven addressability and measurement, focusing on meaningful business outcomes for branding and performance objectives.
Cushion's appointment arrives during accelerated platform evolution as Teads expands its omnichannel outcomes-driven offerings. The company has been strengthening its executive leadership to enhance market position and deliver increased value to advertising partners navigating digital transformation.
Industry observers note Cushion's experience with corporate transitions positions her to lead marketing during Teads' growth phase. Her background includes frequent speaking engagements at major industry events including CES, Cannes Lions, Advertising Week New York, and Fortune Brainstorm Tech.
The marketing leadership transition comes amid increasing competition in the CTV advertising space, where Teads maintains direct publisher partnerships while competing with larger platform providers. Cushion's CTV expertise aligns with industry projections forecasting continued connected television advertising growth through 2026 and beyond.
Teads' executive team expansion reflects broader industry trends toward specialized leadership in omnichannel advertising. The company's focus on outcomes-driven platforms represents a strategic shift from traditional ad tech models toward measurable business results across premium digital environments.
