Kris Magel

Kris Magel is a seasoned media and advertising executive best known for his leadership roles at major media agencies and, more recently, his work shaping the advertising product strategy at Walmart Connect, one of the fastest-growing retail media networks in the U.S. At Walmart Connect, he oversees the development of advertising technology, measurement capabilities, and the broader product suite that enables brands to reach Walmart's massive shopper base across digital and in-store touchpoints using first-party data. Before joining Walmart Connect, Magel built a distinguished career on the agency side of the advertising industry. He served as President of Initiative, the global media agency within the IPG Mediabrands network, where he was responsible for the agency's overall business strategy, client relationships, and media investment operations. His tenure at Initiative and earlier roles within IPG gave him deep expertise in media planning, buying, and the evolving dynamics between brands, agencies, and media owners. Magel's transition from agency leadership to a major retail media operator reflects a broader industry trend of experienced media executives moving in-house to build out the next generation of advertising platforms. His focus on measurement and attribution at Walmart Connect addresses one of retail media's most pressing challenges — proving clear ROI for advertisers — and positions him as a key figure in the ongoing competition between retail media networks and digital-native platforms like Amazon Advertising.

• Bachelor's Degree, University details not publicly confirmed

• Led Initiative as President, overseeing one of IPG Mediabrands' flagship global media agencies
• Joined Walmart Connect to lead advertising product development, contributing to Walmart's emergence as a top-tier retail media network
• Helped build measurement and attribution frameworks at Walmart Connect to demonstrate clear ROI for brand advertisers