Rob Wilk, Corporate Vice President, Global Head of Microsoft Advertising, is leaving the company after 8 years. When Wilk joined Microsoft in 2015, Microsoft’s advertising business was in a bad position. Microsoft wrote down $6.3 billion purchase of advertising company aQuantive, sold its Atlas Advertiser Suite to Facebook, and handed over its display advertising business to AOL.
In the past 8 years, Wilk was instrumental in reviving Microsoft Advertising. Microsoft Advertising is now a $10 billion revenue business, and it is growing day by day. Microsoft Advertising now has the Microsoft Search Network and the Microsoft Audience Network. Together, these two networks reach more than a billion people.
Under his leadership, Microsoft acquired PromoteIQ and Xandr, created a first of its kind measurement partnership with Roku, launched an exclusive ad partnership with Netflix, developed its official presence in Japan and more.
Kya Sainsbury-Carter will be heading Microsoft Advertising from now on. She posted the following message on her LinkedIn page regarding the new role.
I am both honored and humbled to step into the role as the leader of Microsoft Advertising.
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There has never been such an exciting time in our business in terms of rapid fire innovation and the opportunity to bring our full funnel advertising offering to bear in driving success for our clients and partners. To do this hard, energizing, aspirational and inspirational, and fun work with incredibly smart, driven people who lift each other up and operate from a place of empathy and inclusion. Well – all I can say is that I’m grateful. And to start this journey, as the first female leader of Microsoft Advertising, on International Women’s Day. That’s just next level.
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Microsoft Advertising. Let’s. Do. This.
