Snap Inc., the parent company of the popular social media app Snapchat, has been making headlines lately for its ambitious plans to expand its advertising business. As part of this push, the company has been hiring top talent from some of the biggest names in tech and advertising, including Facebook, Google, and WPP.
The move is a strategic one for Snap, as the company seeks to capitalize on the growing trend of digital advertising. According to eMarketer, U.S. digital ad spending is projected to reach $200 billion by 2023, and Snap wants a piece of that pie.
To achieve its goals, Snap has been investing heavily in its advertising platform, launching new ad products and features designed to help advertisers reach Snap’s young and engaged user base. But the company’s success will ultimately depend on the talent it can attract and retain to lead its ad business.
One recent high-profile hire is Claire Valoti, who joined Snap in March 2022 as the company’s Vice President of International Sales. Valoti was previously the Vice President of Sales and Operations for Facebook’s European, Middle Eastern, and African (EMEA) region, where she helped the company grow its advertising business in the region. At Snap, she is responsible for driving revenue growth across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Another key hire is Marcus East, who joined Snap as the company’s Vice President of Advertising Product Management in February 2022. East was previously the Chief Product and Technology Officer at online advertising platform, Perion. At Snap, he is responsible for overseeing the development of the company’s advertising products and features.
These hires follow a string of other high-profile appointments, including the recent addition of David Dancer as Snap’s Vice President of Marketing. Dancer was previously the Chief Marketing Officer at online education platform Coursera, and prior to that, held senior marketing roles at companies including AT&T and Teleflora.
Snap’s recruitment efforts are part of a broader push to strengthen its advertising business and compete more effectively with rivals like Facebook and Google. The company has been focusing on building a more diverse and inclusive workforce, as it seeks to attract top talent from a range of backgrounds.
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel has spoken about the importance of creating a culture that is supportive of all employees, regardless of their background or identity. In an interview with CNBC, Spiegel said that Snap is committed to building “a culture where everyone feels welcome, everyone feels respected, and everyone feels like they can bring their full selves to work.”
The company has also been investing in employee training and development programs, aimed at helping new hires quickly get up to speed and succeed in their roles. Snap has created a number of internal training programs, including a six-month program for new sales employees, and a year-long leadership development program for high-potential employees.
