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Andrew Kraft
COO of The Arena Group. Strategic operator through accelerated periods of growth.
Andrew Kraft is a seasoned executive in the advertising and media industry who is currently on a self-described "listening tour" of the industry.1 Here are some key details about Andrew Kraft:
Professional Background
Andrew Kraft has held several high-level positions in the media and advertising technology space:
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Most recently, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of The Arena Group (formerly known as Maven), a tech-powered media company that operates verticals like Sports Illustrated and TheStreet.2
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Prior to that, he was an executive team member at AppNexus for seven years, holding various leadership roles during the company's rapid growth period before its $1.7 billion acquisition by AT&T's Xandr division.2
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He also led the publisher business at Collective and served in leadership roles at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) early in his career.2
Current Role: On a Listening Tour
In 2020, Andrew Kraft embarked on what he calls a "listening tour" of the advertising industry:
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The purpose of this tour is to gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the industry during a time of significant market change.1
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He has conducted over 75 meetings with CEOs and executives from major holding companies, independent agencies, publishers, brands, and ad tech companies.1
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Kraft aims to gather diverse perspectives on the industry, recognizing that different stakeholders have varying viewpoints based on their positions.1
Approach and Philosophy
Andrew Kraft emphasizes the importance of understanding multiple perspectives in the industry:
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He uses the concept of "parallax" from astronomy to explain how viewing the industry from different angles provides a more three-dimensional understanding.1
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Kraft believes in "good business karma," focusing on helping others regardless of immediate personal benefit.1
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He plans to share insights from his listening tour on LinkedIn, providing a unique, independent perspective on the state of the advertising and media industry.1
Andrew Kraft's LinkedIn username is indeed andrewkraft, where he shares updates and insights from his ongoing listening tour and industry experiences.2
