Most Recently With DISH Network, Shears Built First RTB Offering for Television
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Trade Desk, Inc., a leading demand-side platform in global advertising, announced that it has hired TV veteran James Shears as GM of Advanced TV. Shears, who most recently served as GM of Addressable and Programmatic for DISH Network’s DISH Media Sales division, will oversee The Trade Desk’s continued leadership in making television advertising inventory available to buyers worldwide.
“As we forged new territory in programmatic TV from the buy side, James did the same at DISH, pioneering the world’s first impression-level buying in television,” said The Trade Desk’s CEO Jeff Green. “We are proud to add his expertise to the team, and so thrilled that he’s chosen to join us in creating addressable buying opportunities for the $300B spent in television advertising each year worldwide.”
At DISH, Shears led the company’s programmatic advertising initiative, which offered brands the opportunity to programmatically purchase linear TV ads, targeted to the household level using DISH’s addressable ad technology. Before joining DISH, Shears spent ten years in pricing and strategy roles at networks including Scripps and TV Guide Network, where he developed a fundamental foundation in operations, strategy and finance.
“The Trade Desk has affected major change in programmatic TV over the past year, and I’m excited to make further impact here on the buy side,” said Shears. “As technology for buyers, we are excited about the rapid evolution we’re seeing in television, and committed to propelling it even further in the coming months.”
Shears earned his degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is based out of The Trade Desk’s offices in New York City.
About The Trade Desk, Inc.
Recently named seventh on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, ninth in Forbes Magazine’s Top 100 List of America’s Most Promising Companies, and #34 on the Inc. 500, The Trade Desk powers the most sophisticated buyers in advertising technology. Founded by the pioneers of real-time bidding, The Trade Desk has become the fastest growing demand-side platform in the industry by offering agencies, aggregators and their advertisers best-in-class technology to manage display, social and video advertising campaigns. The Trade Desk empowers buyers at the campaign level with the most expressive bid capabilities in market, full-funnel attribution, and detailed reporting that illustrates the consumer journey from initial impression to conversion. By maintaining a pure buy-side focus, The Trade Desk delivers on branding and performance for clients worldwide.
Headquartered in Ventura, Calif., The Trade Desk has offices across the United States, Europe and Asia.