Demand-Side Platforms

The Trade Desk dominated DSP conversation this week for all the wrong reasons. Adweek's exclusive report that CRO Anders Mortensen has exited after just seven months in the role is a significant leadership signal at a company that has been navigating a complex transition — from pure-play DSP to a broader operating system for the open internet. Mortensen's brief tenure raises questions about whether TTD's go-to-market strategy is fully aligned with its product ambitions, particularly as the company pushes Kokai and its retail media integrations. The timing is notable: TTD is competing aggressively for CTV and retail media budgets while simultaneously defending its independence narrative against the walled gardens. A revolving door at the CRO level is not the stability story the market wants to hear.