Reddit appoints former Google executive to lead ad product strategy after going public

Reddit appoints former Google executive to lead ad product strategy after going public

Jyoti Vaidee, a seasoned professional from Google, takes the helm at Reddit to steer ad product development post-IPO. With a track record of successful launches, including Dynamic Product Ads, Vaidee brings valuable experience from Microsoft's Outlook and Xbox divisions to drive Reddit's advertising initiatives forward.

Article Brief:

Reddit has appointed Google veteran Jyoti Vaidee to the newly created role of vice president of ads product, effective immediately, according to a company blog post.

Vaidee has spent more than ten years working on Google's monetization strategy, most recently overseeing product development for the Display Ads unit. Now, at Reddit, she is responsible for guiding the strategy, execution, and management of advertising products.

In her new role, Vaidee will be reporting to Roelof van Zwol, who has taken on the expanded position of vice president of ads product and engineering. This hiring decision also marks the departure of Shariq Rizvi, the former executive vice president of ads monetization at Reddit and a key figure in shaping its current advertising infrastructure.

Reddit's Newest Addition: Vaidee's Expertise in Ad Products

Vaidee joins Reddit with a strong background in ad product experience, bringing valuable insights to the platform. Reddit, currently expanding its global monetization strategies post its IPO in March, is strategically looking towards industry giants like Google for guidance. This move highlights Reddit's ambition to solidify its position in the competitive digital advertising landscape.

During her time at Google, Vaidee led the launch of successful products like Dynamic Product Ads. She played a key role in expanding products for Google Shopping ads and YouTube. Before Google, she worked on popular consumer platforms like Microsoft’s Outlook email client and Xbox video game console.

A headshot of Reddit executive Jyoti Vaidee against a green background

A headshot of Reddit executive Jyoti Vaidee against a green background

Jyoti Vaidee joins Reddit in the newly created role of VP of ads product

Permission granted by Reddit

The executive taking over from Rizvi at Reddit is expected to continue driving ad innovation for the company. Rizvi, who led the ads product organization for five years, made significant contributions by securing key deals like the acquisition of Spiketrap in 2022 and introducing popular ad products. One of Reddit's recent milestones was the launch of Dynamic Product Ads, a shopping ads format, in April following its IPO.

Reddit had a strong first quarter as a public company, impressing investors with a 39% increase in ad revenue to $222.7 million year-over-year. The IPO came at a time when the digital ad market was recovering after a challenging period in 2022-23.

Vaidee, in a press statement, expressed excitement for Reddit's future as a newly public company with great potential. The platform is at the forefront of building communities and fostering genuine connections that deliver real commercial results. Vaidee looks forward to advancing Reddit's advertising business and creating more value for both users and advertisers.

Reddit is visited by over 82 million users every day. They come to explore forum communities called subreddits, which cover a wide range of interests and fandoms. Interestingly, Reddit has become a popular destination for users looking for more relevant search results on Google. In February, Reddit and Google agreed on a $60 million content licensing deal to improve Google's artificial intelligence models.

Editor's P/S:

The appointment of Jyoti Vaidee as Reddit's vice president of ads product marks a significant step in the platform's monetization strategy. Vaidee's extensive experience at Google, where she oversaw product development for Display Ads, will prove invaluable as Reddit seeks to solidify its position in the competitive digital advertising landscape. Her expertise in launching successful products like Dynamic Product Ads and expanding products for Google Shopping ads and YouTube will undoubtedly contribute to Reddit's growth and innovation.

Reddit's decision to hire Vaidee from Google, an industry giant, highlights its ambition to elevate its advertising infrastructure. The platform's impressive first quarter as a public company, with a 39% increase in ad revenue, further underscores its potential. Vaidee's appointment signals Reddit's commitment to delivering real commercial results for its users and advertisers by leveraging its vast and engaged community of over 82 million daily users.