Teads hires former Innovid CMO to steer omnichannel platform growth

Teads announced on January 5, 2026, the appointment of Dani Cushion as Chief Marketing Officer, effective January 6, 2026. Cushion will lead the company's global marketing organization and drive brand, communications, and go-to-market strategy as the omnichannel outcomes platform accelerates its expansion across connected television and open internet advertising.

The appointment positions Cushion at the center of Teads' transformation following significant organizational changes in recent months. According to the company, Cushion will oversee marketing operations during what CEO David Kostman characterized as "a pivotal moment of integration, innovation, and accelerated platform expansion."

Cushion joins from Innovid, where she served as CMO from December 2023 through July 2025. During her tenure, she led global marketing and communications efforts that positioned the CTV advertising technology company for its acquisition by Mediaocean, which was announced in 2025. The Innovid experience places her among a small group of advertising technology executives who have navigated both public market operations and strategic exits.

Her career trajectory demonstrates consistent engagement with companies at critical inflection points. At Cardlytics from 2015 to 2020, Cushion developed the marketing vision for the publicly-traded fintech and advertising technology company, guiding it through its initial public offering. The company, which operates purchase intelligence platforms within banking applications, required sophisticated positioning to explain its data-driven advertising model to both financial markets and advertising industry stakeholders.

"Dani has a proven ability to translate complex industry dynamics across CTV and the open internet into actionable marketing strategies that drive real business results," Kostman said in the announcement. "Her impact at some of the most important companies in the industry speaks for itself."

Earlier in her career, Cushion served as SVP of Global Marketing and Communications at Millennial Media from 2014 to 2015, contributing to the mobile advertising platform's public company operations before its acquisition by AOL, which later became part of Verizon Media. That transaction, completed in 2015, represented one of several consolidations in the mobile advertising sector during the mid-2010s, a period when platform fragmentation created opportunities for scaled solutions.

The Millennial Media experience provides relevant context for Teads' current position. Mobile advertising platforms in that era faced challenges in demonstrating value propositions to both advertisers seeking cross-platform reach and publishers seeking monetization solutions—dynamics that parallel current connected television market conditions where advertisers navigate measurement challenges and attribution gaps across fragmented streaming environments.

Cushion also brings experience from ExecOnline, where she served as CMO from 2021 through December 2023. The educational technology platform, which partners with business schools for leadership development programs, required different marketing approaches than advertising technology companies, suggesting adaptability across business models and audience types.

"Teads sits at the center of some of the most important innovations in ad tech—particularly as CTV continues to evolve—and the opportunity ahead is significant," Cushion stated in the announcement. "With its technology, global scale, and multi-screen reach, Teads is uniquely positioned to help brands and publishers navigate a rapidly changing ecosystem."

The appointment follows Teads' November 2025 announcement of Mollie Spilman as Chief Commercial Officer. Spilman oversees global commercial strategy and works with regional leadership teams to accelerate growth and deepen client performance. The two executive appointments within a two-month period indicate organizational preparation for scaled operations.

Teads operates as an omnichannel outcomes platform connecting advertisers with premium media across web, mobile, and connected television environments. The company maintains direct partnerships with more than 10,000 publishers and works with over 20,000 advertisers globally. This positioning places the platform at the intersection of several industry trends: the continued growth of connected television advertising, ongoing consolidation in advertising technology infrastructure, and advertiser demands for outcome-driven measurement beyond traditional awareness metrics.

The connected television opportunity represents a central element of Teads' strategy. CTV advertising continues experiencing rapid growth as streaming audiences expand and traditional linear television viewership declines. However, the CTV market faces persistent challenges in measurement standardization, attribution methodologies, and cross-platform tracking—issues that require sophisticated marketing communication to address advertiser concerns while demonstrating platform capabilities.

Teads' platform architecture emphasizes outcome-driven advertising rather than pure impression delivery. The company leverages predictive artificial intelligence technology to connect media placements with brand creative and context-driven addressability. This approach responds to advertiser demands for performance accountability across brand awareness campaigns, a shift from historical brand advertising approaches that emphasized reach and frequency metrics without direct outcome attribution.

The company's scale provides advantages in a fragmenting media landscape. Direct publisher partnerships across more than 10,000 properties offer advertisers access to premium inventory without relying exclusively on walled garden platforms. For publishers, Teads represents a monetization option beyond platform-dependent advertising systems, particularly relevant as publishers navigate traffic challenges from AI-driven search result changes and evolving discovery patterns.

Cushion's background in performance marketing and brand positioning aligns with Teads' emphasis on "full-funnel results" across brand awareness and conversion objectives. The company positions itself as driving "meaningful business outcomes for branding and performance objectives," language that reflects industry-wide movement toward unified measurement frameworks rather than siloed campaign optimization.

The timing of Cushion's appointment coincides with broader advertising technology industry consolidation. The Innovid-Mediaocean transaction that occurred during her Innovid tenure represents one of multiple combinations in CTV measurement and advertising delivery infrastructure. These consolidations typically aim to offer comprehensive solutions spanning campaign planning, creative personalization, measurement, and attribution—capabilities that individual point solutions struggled to deliver at scale.

Teads itself completed significant transactions in recent years. The company's February 2025 combination with Outbrain merged complementary businesses: Teads' video and display advertising technology with Outbrain's content recommendation platform. That integration created a larger entity with both premium video capabilities and content discovery solutions, expanding addressable market opportunities while creating operational complexities that require coordinated marketing approaches.

Marketing leadership for combined entities requires navigating multiple stakeholder audiences. Advertisers need clarity on platform capabilities, especially when mergers combine distinct technologies. Publishers require communication about monetization opportunities and implementation requirements. Investors, in Teads' case as a publicly-traded company on Nasdaq under ticker symbol TEAD, expect articulation of growth strategies and competitive positioning. Employees across global operations need understanding of organizational direction and value propositions.

Cushion's experience guiding Cardlytics through its IPO process provides relevant background for public company communications. Public advertising technology companies face particular challenges explaining business models to financial analysts unfamiliar with industry-specific terminology and revenue recognition practices. Cardlytics' purchase intelligence model, which derived advertising targeting from bank transaction data, required education about data infrastructure, privacy compliance, and closed-loop attribution—complex topics that parallel Teads' need to explain omnichannel advertising delivery and outcome measurement.

The Chief Marketing Officer role at Teads encompasses responsibilities beyond traditional brand marketing. According to the announcement, Cushion will oversee the company's go-to-market strategy, suggesting involvement in product positioning, sales enablement, and channel strategy. This expanded scope reflects a common pattern in B2B technology companies where marketing organizations increasingly influence revenue operations rather than focusing exclusively on brand awareness and lead generation.

Teads faces competitive pressures from multiple directions. Large platform companies including Google, Amazon, and Meta operate significant advertising businesses with proprietary audience data and extensive publisher relationships. Independent advertising technology companies including The Trade Desk, Magnite, and PubMatic compete for advertiser budgets and publisher partnerships. Specialized CTV platforms such as Roku, Samsung Ads, and VIZIO Ads focus specifically on streaming environments, while Teads pursues omnichannel approaches.

Differentiation in this competitive environment requires clear articulation of value propositions. Teads emphasizes its independence from walled gardens, positioning this as an advantage for advertisers seeking transparency and for publishers maintaining control over their advertising operations. The company's predictive AI technology represents another differentiation point, though multiple competitors also emphasize machine learning capabilities for optimization.

The global footprint presents both opportunities and complexities. Teads operates across more than 30 countries with a team approaching 1,800 people. International expansion requires localized marketing approaches that account for regional regulatory frameworks, competitive dynamics, and market maturity levels. European markets, for instance, operate under GDPR privacy regulations that shape advertising targeting capabilities, while Asia-Pacific markets demonstrate different levels of CTV adoption and distinct publisher ecosystems.

Cushion's background includes international experience. Her roles at Millennial Media and Cardlytics involved global marketing responsibilities, suggesting familiarity with multi-market operations. Her public speaking engagements at industry events including CES, Cannes Lions, Advertising Week New York, Fortune Brainstorm Tech, and the Mobile Marketing Association's CMO and CEO Summit indicate comfort operating in high-visibility forums where competitive positioning and thought leadership matter.

The advertising technology industry continues experiencing transformation driven by multiple forces. Privacy regulations including GDPR in Europe and state-level privacy laws in the United States constrain third-party cookie tracking, forcing platforms to develop alternative targeting and measurement methodologies. The rise of retail media networks creates new competition for advertising budgets as retailers leverage first-party purchase data. Artificial intelligence capabilities enable both creative personalization and campaign optimization, while simultaneously introducing new complexities in transparency and explainability.

Automation represents another significant trend affecting advertising operations. Advertisers increasingly expect platforms to optimize campaigns automatically based on outcome objectives rather than requiring manual adjustments. This shift from hands-on campaign management to goal-based optimization changes the value proposition that advertising technology platforms must communicate—emphasizing outcome delivery over feature capabilities.

Connected television measurement challenges remain unresolved industry-wide. Unlike digital display advertising where click-through measurement provides clear attribution, CTV lacks standardized interaction mechanisms. Platforms employ various approaches including probabilistic matching, household-level exposure tracking, and incremental lift measurement, but no universal standard exists. Teads' emphasis on outcome-driven advertising requires marketing communication that addresses measurement credibility while explaining methodological approaches.

The publisher ecosystem faces its own challenges that impact platforms like Teads. Traffic declines from AI-powered search summaries affect publisher pageview volumes, reducing advertising inventory availability. Publishers simultaneously face pressure from advertisers demanding brand safety controls and contextual relevance, requiring platforms to offer sophisticated content categorization and adjacency management.

Cushion's appointment follows a broader pattern of advertising technology companies recruiting marketing leaders with public company experience. As the sector matures beyond venture-capital-funded growth phases, companies increasingly require executives who understand investor relations, analyst communications, and the specific demands of operating as publicly-traded entities. Her background navigating IPO processes at both Cardlytics and Millennial Media, plus positioning Innovid for strategic exit, aligns with these requirements.

The timing also reflects Teads' need for marketing leadership as it communicates its evolution from a video advertising platform to a comprehensive omnichannel outcomes platform. Rebranding efforts—particularly for established companies with existing market recognition—require careful execution that maintains brand equity while introducing new positioning. Cushion will need to balance Teads' reputation in premium video advertising with communication about expanded capabilities across display, CTV, and performance-driven advertising.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with minors in Philosophy and Economics from Lehigh University, where she graduated magna cum laude and served as a four-year varsity soccer starter and two-year captain. She also studied abroad at University College London, focusing on Philosophy and Economics. The athletic background suggests competitive drive and team leadership experience, attributes that translate to executive roles.

Earlier career experience included roles at SiriusXM from 2005 to 2010, where she managed content marketing and partner marketing programs leveraging sports and entertainment assets to drive subscriber acquisition. She also worked at Millsport/The Marketing Arm from 2001 to 2005, leading integrated marketing programs for clients including XM Radio, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi-Lipton, focusing on sports and hospitality sponsorship activation.

Industry observers will watch how Cushion approaches several marketing challenges specific to Teads' position. First, the company must communicate its value proposition to an increasingly consolidated advertiser base where major holding companies control significant budgets. Second, Teads needs to articulate differentiation in outcome measurement as competitors also claim performance capabilities. Third, the company faces the ongoing challenge of explaining complex advertising technology to audiences ranging from technical practitioners to C-suite executives at brands.

The Chief Marketing Officer appointment represents one element of broader organizational development at Teads. The company continues building its leadership team to support its omnichannel platform ambitions. Beyond marketing and commercial leadership, successful execution requires product development, engineering, data science, and operational capabilities aligned with strategic direction.

For the advertising technology sector, executive appointments like Cushion's provide signals about company priorities and strategic direction. Her background emphasizes B2B technology marketing, public company operations, and positioning companies for growth or exit—capabilities that suggest Teads focuses on demonstrating business value to current and prospective investors while capturing market opportunities in CTV and omnichannel advertising.

The announcement positions Cushion's start date as January 6, 2026, providing minimal transition time between announcement and beginning responsibilities. This immediate commencement suggests either extensive advance preparation or confidence in her ability to rapidly assess organizational needs and market dynamics. Companies typically announce executive appointments with several weeks' lead time, but the January 5 announcement for a January 6 start date indicates different timing considerations.

Teads' statement about entering "its next chapter of growth" indicates organizational confidence in market opportunities and internal capabilities. The phrasing suggests movement beyond integration phases following acquisitions toward scaled expansion and market share gains. Marketing leadership plays a crucial role in such phases, shaping how investors, customers, partners, and employees understand the company's direction and capabilities.

The advertising technology landscape that Cushion enters differs significantly from when she began her career in the early 2000s. Digital advertising has evolved from a supplementary marketing channel to the primary advertising medium in many markets, with programmatic automation enabling scaled campaign execution across millions of publisher properties. Connected television has emerged as a growth category, bringing digital advertising capabilities to streaming environments while introducing measurement complexities.

Privacy regulations have fundamentally reshaped advertising technology capabilities. The deprecation of third-party cookies in browsers requires alternative approaches to audience targeting and measurement. Identity resolution—connecting user interactions across devices and platforms—has become a critical capability that platforms must communicate effectively to advertisers concerned about attribution accuracy.

Artificial intelligence has transformed from a niche capability to an expected platform feature. Advertisers increasingly assume that platforms employ machine learning for campaign optimization, creative personalization, and fraud detection. Marketing communication must differentiate specific AI capabilities rather than treating AI as a sufficient value proposition.

Cushion's LinkedIn profile indicates membership on the board of directors for Women in Technology from 2017 to 2022, an organization supporting women in STEAM careers from classroom through boardroom. The involvement suggests commitment to industry diversity initiatives and organizational leadership beyond day-to-day operational responsibilities.

Her speaking experience at major industry events positions her as a thought leader capable of representing Teads in high-profile forums where competitive dynamics and industry trends receive significant attention. These events provide platforms for announcing product developments, sharing research findings, and shaping industry narratives—activities central to marketing leadership at major advertising technology companies.

The appointment comes during a period when advertising technology companies face questions about sustainable competitive advantages. As platforms offer increasingly similar capabilities in programmatic bidding, audience targeting, and campaign optimization, differentiation becomes more challenging. Marketing leadership must identify and communicate authentic differentiators rather than relying on generic positioning.

For Teads, potential differentiation areas include its publisher relationships, CTV capabilities, outcome measurement approaches, and platform independence from walled gardens. Cushion's responsibility includes determining which differentiation messages resonate with target audiences and how to communicate them effectively across owned media, earned media, and industry events.

The Chief Marketing Officer role also involves internal communications and culture building. Following acquisitions and executive changes, employees need clarity about organizational direction and their roles in executing strategy. Marketing leaders often shape internal narratives that influence employee engagement, retention, and productivity—factors particularly important for technology companies competing for talent.

Looking forward, Cushion's success will likely be measured by several factors. Brand awareness metrics will indicate whether Teads' market presence expands among target advertisers and agencies. Revenue growth, while influenced by multiple factors beyond marketing, provides context about whether go-to-market strategies effectively capture market opportunities. Employee engagement and retention offer signals about internal communication effectiveness. Investor confidence, reflected in stock performance and analyst commentary, indicates whether financial markets understand and value Teads' strategy.

The appointment represents a significant moment for both Cushion and Teads as they navigate evolving advertising technology markets, competitive pressures, and opportunities in connected television and omnichannel advertising. Her track record demonstrates capability to operate at senior levels in complex technology companies, while Teads' scale and market position provide a platform for impact across the advertising ecosystem.

Timeline

• 1999: Dani Cushion begins career in sports marketing at Major League Soccer and ISL North America
• 2001-2005: Works at Millsport/The Marketing Arm managing integrated marketing programs for major brands including XM Radio
• 2005-2010: Serves in content marketing and partner marketing roles at SiriusXM
• 2010-2015: Joins Millennial Media in various marketing roles, promoted to SVP Global Marketing & Communications
• 2015: AOL acquires Millennial Media (later part of Verizon Media)
• 2015-2020: Serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Cardlytics, guiding company through IPO
• 2017-2022: Serves on Board of Directors for Women in Technology
• 2021-December 2023: Serves as Chief Marketing Officer at ExecOnline
• December 2023-July 2025: Serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Innovid, positioning company for acquisition by Mediaocean
• August 2025-January 2026: Works as strategic advisor to high-growth company CEOs and founders
• November 2025: Teads appoints Mollie Spilman as Chief Commercial Officer
• January 5, 2026: Teads announces Dani Cushion's appointment as Chief Marketing Officer
• January 6, 2026: Cushion officially begins role as CMO at Teads

Summary

Who: Dani Cushion, a marketing executive with experience guiding advertising technology companies through IPOs and strategic exits at Innovid, Cardlytics, and Millennial Media, joins Teads as Chief Marketing Officer. David Kostman, CEO of Teads, made the announcement as part of broader executive team expansion.

What: Teads appointed Cushion to lead its global marketing organization, overseeing brand strategy, communications, and go-to-market initiatives. She will guide marketing operations for the omnichannel outcomes platform as it expands capabilities across connected television, display advertising, and performance-driven campaigns with outcome measurement.

When: The announcement occurred on January 5, 2026, with Cushion's official start date of January 6, 2026. The appointment follows the November 2025 hiring of Mollie Spilman as Chief Commercial Officer, indicating accelerated leadership team development during the final months of 2025.

Where: Cushion will work across Teads' global operations, which span more than 30 countries with nearly 1,800 employees. The company, headquartered in New York and publicly traded on Nasdaq under ticker symbol TEAD, maintains offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific regions.

Why: Teads requires marketing leadership as it integrates recent acquisitions, expands its connected television capabilities, and communicates its evolution from a video advertising platform to a comprehensive omnichannel outcomes platform. Cushion's experience positioning advertising technology companies for growth and navigating public market operations aligns with Teads' need to articulate value propositions to advertisers, publishers, and investors during a period of industry consolidation and rapid CTV market growth.