Technology & Partnerships Leader

Building bridges between strategy and execution

20+ years leading global technology initiatives at the intersection of AdTech, AI, and platform ecosystems. I turn complex partnerships and technical programs into measurable business outcomes.

20+
Years in Tech
$100M+
Ad Spend Deployed
Top 100
Google Advertiser
Exit → IPO
Full Cycle
3 VP Roles
Progressive Leadership
$150M+
Annual Partner Revenue
About

The intersection of technology and partnerships is where I thrive.

I've spent 20+ years sourcing, negotiating, and scaling complex product partnerships end-to-end across consumer internet, search, and mobile. My career began in the early days of digital advertising, and as one of Google's Top 100 Advertisers, I helped pioneer the tooling and strategies that shaped the modern adtech landscape.

As VP at Nativex (a Mobvista company), I reported directly to the CFO, spearheading global initiatives in privacy compliance, data security, market expansion, and complex product partnerships. I led the company's engagement with US federal regulators on data privacy and national security compliance following the cross-border acquisition, negotiating a compliance framework that included data localization, third-party audits, and ongoing reporting obligations. I oversaw the rollout of enterprise MarTech, DevSecOps, and CRM systems across 20 offices and 1,000+ employees, while managing end-to-end commercial agreements in close partnership with Engineering, Legal, and Finance.

I bring a rare combination: deep technical fluency, from SDK/API integrations and algorithmic bidding systems to hands-on work with AI and automation tools, paired with senior commercial leadership, including being part of the leadership team that successfully exited the company to Mobvista and subsequently navigated the Mobvista IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Today, I'm applying this partnership pattern recognition to the rapidly evolving AI/LLM ecosystem, building practical familiarity with provider capabilities, pricing models, and integration tradeoffs. I'm based in Minnesota and open to remote, hybrid, and travel-friendly opportunities.

At a Glance

Location Minnesota
Experience 20+ Years
Education B.S., Business Computer
Information Systems
University St. Cloud State
Availability Remote / Hybrid / Travel

Industries

AdTech & Programmatic
Commerce Media & Retail Media
AI & Machine Learning
Privacy & Data Platforms
Consumer Software
SaaS & Enterprise Software
Career

20+ years of building at the edge of technology.

From pioneering search engine marketing to leading global platform strategy through an IPO.

Mar 2023 - Present
Independent Consultant
Strategic Technology Consulting
Advising clients across AI integration, technology partnership strategy, and operational automation. For a retail health e-commerce brand, led a build-vs-buy evaluation and designed a custom multi-model agent workflow that achieved 4x creative output. For a mobile app developer, architected a multi-model routing strategy that reduced API spend by 35%. For OpenClaw, building an agentic AI platform integrating multiple LLM provider APIs with token optimization for consumer-facing applications.
LLM Deployment AI Agents Workflow Automation
Dec 2019 - Mar 2023
VP, Global Strategic Initiatives
Nativex (Mobvista Group)
Reported directly to the CFO, spearheading global initiatives in privacy compliance, data security, market expansion, and complex product partnerships. Led the company's response to evolving privacy regulations and platform policy changes (GDPR, Apple ATT/SKAdNetwork), defining partnership and product strategies that preserved user trust while maintaining revenue. Led the company's engagement with US federal regulators on data privacy and national security compliance following the cross-border acquisition. Negotiated and implemented a compliance framework including data localization, data deletion requirements, third-party audits, and ongoing reporting obligations. Managed end-to-end execution of commercial agreements, including drafting term sheets, negotiating complex deals, and interfacing directly with Legal on contract language. Partnered closely with Engineering to define technical requirements, architect solutions, and oversee rollout. Sourced, evaluated, and negotiated enterprise partnerships for CRM and DevSecOps platforms serving 1,000+ employees across 20 global offices, managing competing vendor tradeoffs and aligning technical requirements with financial and operational constraints.
Enterprise Tech Rollout GDPR/CCPA Cross-Functional Execution Channel Partnerships
May 2017 - Dec 2019
VP, Supply
Nativex (Mobvista Group)
Grew portfolio revenue from US$61.7M in 2017 to US$150.1M in 2019. Developed and managed a global portfolio of competing and complementary partner relationships — publishers, attribution vendors, mediation technology partners, and app stores — balancing partner interests and negotiating across a complex ecosystem. Led complex deal negotiations requiring deep technical and product understanding, bringing market intelligence to internal teams to inform strategic decisions. Guided cross-functional change management, mitigating risk across global teams to meet stringent requirements during the company's IPO process on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
IPO Execution Attribution & Mediation Vendor Strategy
Apr 2015 - May 2017
VP, Business Development
Nativex (exited to Mobvista, March 2016)
Led Business Development and Sales teams focused on growing the scale and diversity of developers on the adtech platform. Identified and secured mediation technology partnerships that unlocked double-digit incremental revenue channels during a critical acquisition evaluation window, directly supporting the company's valuation narrative and successful exit to Mobvista in March 2016. Led combined global Supply teams post-acquisition to ensure continuity and growth.
M&A Integration SDK/API Partnerships Post-Acquisition Operations
Sep 2012 - Apr 2015
Business Development Director
Nativex
Led the Business Development team focused on scaling proprietary mobile in-app inventory by integrating advertising SDKs into third-party mobile apps and games. Embedded engineering resources at partner offices to co-build custom SDK implementations, jointly scoping technical requirements and navigating platform constraints on both sides to ship capabilities that neither product could deliver alone. Owned end-to-end deal structuring, including term sheets, contract review, and negotiation with Legal.
SDK/API Partnerships Technical Partnerships Deal Structuring
Nov 2007 - Sep 2012
Sr. User Acquisition Manager & Manager of Marketing
W3i
Oversaw the media buying program spanning SEM, RTB, and affiliate channels. Owned both sides of the Yahoo search feed partnership, managing distribution strategy and user acquisition on the buy side while simultaneously optimizing search feed monetization and commercial terms on the sell side. Instrumental in renegotiating the toolbar distribution partnership to include a minimum payout per install in the US market (revenue share was industry standard), greatly improving cash flows through sophisticated financial modeling and deal structuring. Played a foundational role in the mobile app adtech business, building user acquisition strategies and identifying new business opportunities.
Strategic Partnerships Financial Modeling Mobile Adtech
May 2005 - Nov 2007
Sr. Marketing Manager & Media Buyer
W3i (formerly Freeze.com)
Achieved Top 100 Google Advertiser status as an early AdWords API beta partner, building proprietary bid management software through direct API integration. Built Freeze.com's foundational SEM program, establishing search marketing expertise carried throughout a 20-year career.
Google AdWords API (Early Beta) Top 100 Advertiser Bid Management Systems Search Advertising Paid Media
Expertise

Where I add the most value.

🤝

Strategic Partnerships

End-to-end deal architecture from term sheet through implementation. Complex multi-party negotiations with platform partners, data providers, and measurement vendors across global markets.

🚀

Program Delivery

Enterprise-scale technology rollouts (MarTech, DevSecOps, CRM) across distributed organizations. Agile delivery with cross-functional alignment between Engineering, Product, and Business stakeholders.

🛡️

Privacy & Governance

Federal regulatory compliance, cross-border data governance, and privacy architecture in regulated environments. GDPR/ATT response, IPO-grade risk mitigation, and data localization frameworks.

📊

Commerce Media

Deep expertise across the programmatic advertising ecosystem: attribution, measurement, mediation, and monetization. SDK/API integration strategy for publishers and merchants at scale.

🤖

AI & Automation

AI/LLM provider evaluation, multi-model portfolio architecture, and integration strategy. Hands-on builder with practical fluency in pricing models, cost optimization, and the provider tradeoffs that underpin AI product partnerships.

🌐

Global Operations

Leading distributed teams across 20+ offices internationally. Cross-cultural commercial execution, international market expansion, and M&A integration experience.

Impact

Numbers that tell the story.

$150M+
Annual partner revenue
$100M+
Direct response ad & marketing spend deployed across channels
1,000+
Global employees onboarded through enterprise technology rollout
20
Global offices managed across strategic initiatives
IPO
Navigated Mobvista's listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
Perspective

What I'm thinking about.

Topics at the intersection of technology partnerships, AI, and the evolving platform ecosystem.

AI Partnerships

AI partnerships require adtech discipline — and architectures designed for change.

Vendor evaluation, deal structuring, cost optimization, managing competing and complementary relationships. The AI provider landscape mirrors what I navigated in mobile adtech, but moves faster. The best AI integrations are designed for change with built-in optionality: multi-model routing, provider-agnostic abstractions, and contract structures that anticipate capability shifts.

AI & Automation

The best AI leaders will be the ones who actually build with the technology.

I spend time evaluating models, integrating APIs, and shipping automation workflows in real products. That hands-on operator perspective, combined with 20+ years of technology partnership pattern recognition, helps me separate hype from practical fit across capability, cost, and implementation risk.

Privacy & AI

Privacy is a competitive advantage in AI partnerships, not just a compliance requirement.

Companies that build data governance into their AI architecture from the start will win the partnerships that matter. After leading federal regulatory engagement, cross-border data compliance, and platform privacy responses, I see privacy as the foundation that makes ambitious AI integrations possible — not the constraint that limits them.

Privacy

Privacy-first product strategy remains foundational, even as AI reshapes everything else.

After years leading the company's response to GDPR, Apple ATT/SKAdNetwork, and evolving platform policies, I see privacy as a product advantage, not a compliance burden. As AI introduces new data considerations, the companies that build trust into their architecture from the start will win.

Connect

Let's talk.

I'm actively exploring my next opportunity. Whether you're a hiring manager, recruiter, or someone who shares these interests, I'd love to connect.