Experience-led commerce media company Nift has appointed former Yahoo executive John McNerney as general manager, APAC, as it formally expands into Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Based in Sydney, McNerney will report to Nift’s chief revenue officer, Saket Mehta, and is tasked with launching and scaling the company’s platform across APAC, starting with Australia as its first regional market.
Bringing Yahoo experience to a new market
McNerney joins Nift after most recently serving as managing director, AUSEA at Yahoo, where he led business and technology strategy across Australia and Southeast Asia.
In his new role, he will be responsible for building local teams, partnerships and customer relationships as Nift looks to capitalise on growing demand from commerce platforms seeking new revenue streams that do not undermine customer trust.
“APAC is a strategically important market for Nift as commerce platforms look for new ways to drive revenue without compromising customer trust,” said Mehta.
“John brings deep regional expertise, strong industry relations, and a proven ability to build teams and partnerships in complex markets. He’s exactly the right leader to establish our presence in Australia.”
Expansion follows UK launch and North American growth
The APAC expansion follows Nift’s recent launch in the UK and continued growth across North America. Globally, more than 14,500 brands partner with Nift, delivering over 50 million experience-led moments each month.
The platform works with retail media networks, fintech and travel companies to generate incremental revenue while supporting customer engagement and loyalty through experience-driven media rather than traditional advertising.
A career spanning adtech, data and SaaS
McNerney brings more than 15 years of international experience across SaaS, data and advertising technology, with leadership roles spanning APAC and EMEA.
At Yahoo, he was credited with driving growth through product innovation, AI-enabled efficiencies and strategic partnerships.
He has also served as an IAB board member and advisor to emerging technology ventures, and previously held senior roles at Comscore and Verizon Media.
“The open web is undergoing a fundamental transformation as AI shifts consumer behaviour from search to discovery,” McNerney said.
“Nift is at the heart of this evolution, helping commerce partners drive deeper loyalty and brand affinity by delivering personalised value as Nift sits at the intersection of commerce, data and experience.
“Australia is a natural launch market for Nift, and I’m excited to build our presence here as we expand across the broader APAC region.
Top image: John McNerney