Robert Applegate
Summary
Results-driven Ad Tech Executive with deep expertise in enhancing operational processes across mobile, CTV, and omni-channel environments. Proven track record of aligning customer success teams with strategic efficiency initiatives, leveraging AI and productivity tools to maximize profitability and drive publisher growth.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director, Ads Customer Success
PubMatic
Redwood City, California
09.2025 - Current
- Aligned customer success teams with company-wide efficiency and quality initiatives, driving improved service delivery and client satisfaction.
- Drove retention and expansion across strategic publisher relationships through rigorous account management and analysis.
- Delivered consultative data-driven strategies to address performance trends and marketplace dynamics effectively.
- Streamlined operational processes across mobile app omni and CTV publisher teams, enhancing workflow consistency and documentation standards.
- Encouraged adoption of productivity and AI systems such as Notion, Claude, OpenAI, and Helix to enhance efficiency.
- Onboarded publishers and channel partners through various integration paths, facilitating technical setups and ensuring smooth integration.
- Conducted bottoms-up forecasting and account planning across a large publisher book of business to inform strategies.
- Collaborated with product engineering and executive leadership to translate publisher needs into actionable feedback.
Vice President, Advertising Operations
Tubi
San Francisco, USA
12.2019 - 06.2025
- Promoted from Head of Ad Ops and Senior Director; built and led a high-impact team during hypergrowth to revenues over $1B
- Scaled ad revenue by 1,700%, growing team from 1 to 14+ across Ad Ops, analytics, and hired regional leads.
- Defined and launched Order Management System (OMS) workflows; integrated with proprietary ad server, aligning SLAs across Product, AE, and Advanced TV teams.
- Negotiated major vendor contracts (e.g., MOAT, DVPS, STAQ), enhancing IVT protection and measurement capabilities.
- Collaborated with Product and Engineering to scope, prioritize, and implement Ad Ops tooling and ad server enhancements, including pacing logic and campaign delivery intelligence, aligning Ad Ops needs within technical roadmap constraints.
- Developed and maintained custom tooling in Google Sheets for campaign pacing, QA, spend tracking, and exec reporting; collaborated with engineering to migrate first- vs third-party pacing and discrepancy analysis into proprietary ad server using "Pulse"; leveraging data warehouse dumps via DVPS and STAQ.
- Collaborated with Accounting and Fox Corporate Audit teams, including PwC and E&Y, to support month-end billing processes and ensure adherence to SOC compliance and internal monthly financial controls.
- Led preliminary OneFox campaign enablement by onboarding Beeswax as a beta DSP ahead of Freewheel and AdRise integration; implemented Freewheel pass-through CPM tags to unify FOX and Tubi execution, with 80% of revenue deployed on Tubi.
- Facilitated acquisition process by Fox
Co-Founder, Ad Operations
Peregrine Digital
05.2017 - 03.2023
- Bootstrapped programmatic consultancy to $1MM AR in year one, while maintaining executive responsibilities at inPowered as well as Tubi.
- Developed and executed GTM strategy, overseeing client services, campaign execution, and business operations.
- Assisted clients with DSP/SSP setup and trafficking, creating operational playbooks to enable scalable processes.
Director of Ad Operations
InPowered
San Francisco, USA
05.2017 - 11.2018
- Managed proprietary ad server and integrated APIs with native platforms Zemanta, Facebook, and Yahoo! Ads to enhance ad delivery capabilities.
- Integrated MOAT beta for IVT filtering to improve machine learning optimization and ensure high traffic quality.
- Prepared platform for SaaS B2B use and successfully onboarded Cadreon as first strategic partner.
- San Francisco, CA
Head of Advertising Operations & Account Management
Virool
San Francisco, USA
09.2016 - 03.2017
- Prioritized owned inventory across exchanges including Brightroll, AOL, and SpotX to maximize revenue potential.
- Managed proprietary video DSP and SSP inventory, ensuring prioritized onboarding of Virool publishers.
- Revamped campaign pacing and team structure to mitigate revenue risk.
- Facilitated successful acquisition by Turgo
Supervisor, Ad Operations
Bleacher Report
San Francisco, USA
02.2012 - 02.2016
- Promoted from inventory analyst to adops specialist, then to supervisor following acquisition.
- Led team of 9 across NBA.com, NCAA.com, PGA.com, NASCAR.com, and BleacherReport.com.
- Implemented rigorous pre-sale yield analysis and post-sale QA analysis, bolstering revenue reconciliation by 20% and ensuring stable and positive agency/publisher LTV.
- Delivered pacing and revenue forecasts across all direct-sold campaigns.
- Integrated CMS with product taxonomy and third-party ad tech, enhancing campaign tracking and reporting.
- Facilitated ongoing training initiatives to ensure Turner Sports adapted to evolving industry standards.
- Joined Turner Sports during acquisition
Product Manager / Project Associate
OptionsXpress
05.2010 - 01.2012
- Led retention marketing initiatives for options trading seminars, enhancing attendee engagement.
- Coordinated scheduling and booking of flights and hotels for International Sales Team, ensuring timely travel arrangements.
- Facilitated Sales pitches in absence of Sellers, maintaining communication with clients and supporting team objectives.
- Supported integration efforts post-acquisition.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Integrated Marketing
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY01-2009
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Foothill College
Mountain View, CA01-2007
Skills
- Proprietary ad tech platforms
- Programmatic and ORTB strategy
- Mobile app, CTV, and omni monetization
- Campaign QA and optimization
- Fraud detection and mitigation
- Revenue forecasting and pacing
- OMS, CRM, and ad server integrations
- RTB signal analysis and marketplace health
- ML-driven publisher growth solutions
- Customer success strategy
- Client engagement analytics
- Change management strategies
- Performance metrics analysis
- Ad performance evaluation
- Client onboarding processes
Timeline
Senior Director, Ads Customer Success
PubMatic
09.2025 - Current
Vice President, Advertising Operations
Tubi
12.2019 - 06.2025
Co-Founder, Ad Operations
Peregrine Digital
05.2017 - 03.2023
Director of Ad Operations
InPowered
05.2017 - 11.2018
Head of Advertising Operations & Account Management
Virool
09.2016 - 03.2017
Supervisor, Ad Operations
Bleacher Report
02.2012 - 02.2016
Product Manager / Project Associate
OptionsXpress
05.2010 - 01.2012
Bachelor of Science - Integrated Marketing
Ithaca College
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Foothill College