iWorld
Snap names Doug Hott CFO as Derek Andersen exits amid restructuring
Leadership shift and layoffs signal sharper focus on costs and growth path
NEW YORK: Snap Inc. is reshuffling its top leadership, appointing Doug Hott as chief financial officer as longtime finance chief Derek Andersen prepares to step down next month.
In an internal note, Snap chief executive officer Evan Spiegel said Andersen will leave after nearly eight years with the company, with his final earnings call set for May 6 and last working day on May 8. Andersen is departing for a new opportunity, closing a chapter that saw him guide the company through the pandemic, major shifts in digital advertising, and broader economic turbulence.
Reflecting on his tenure, Snap chief executive officer Evan Spiegel said Derek Andersen had been “a great partner” who helped steer the business through some of its most challenging periods while keeping a steady focus on long-term growth and profitability.
Taking over is Doug Hott, currently vice president of finance, strategy and corporate development, who has worked closely with leadership on capital allocation and restructuring. Snap chief executive officer Evan Spiegel described Doug Hott as a long-time partner with a strong commitment to cost discipline and doing more with less, signalling continuity at a time when efficiency is front and centre.
The leadership transition comes alongside a broader organisational reset. The workplace experience team will now report to Scott Withycombe, while the content team will move under the product organisation led by Ceci Mourkogiannis. Partnerships executives Anne and Craig will report to Zach Kahn as Snap aims to streamline operations.
The changes follow a recent round of layoffs that saw the company cut around 1,000 roles, or roughly 16 per cent of its workforce, reflecting a wider industry push towards leaner structures and tighter cost controls.
Investors are now turning their attention to Snap’s upcoming quarterly results in early May, which are expected to offer clearer signals on the company’s financial trajectory and the impact of its restructuring efforts.
With a new finance chief in place and a sharper organisational focus, Snap appears to be tightening its belt while keeping an eye on long-term growth in an increasingly competitive digital advertising market.
iWorld
Frodoh, Chaupal introduce non-intrusive first-screen ads for OTT platforms
New ad-tech layer unlocks revenue without interrupting OTT viewing
MUMBAI: Frodoh has partnered with regional OTT platform Chaupal to roll out what it calls an industry-first “first-screen” monetisation framework, aimed at helping subscription-led streaming services generate additional revenue without interrupting content viewing.
The new model focuses on connected TV home screens, introducing ad formats that sit within the discovery layer rather than the content itself. In simple terms, viewers may notice subtle brand placements while browsing, but once they hit play, the experience remains ad-free.
The technology is designed to tap into high-attention areas such as session depth, viewing intent and discovery behaviour, turning previously unused interface space into monetisable real estate. For OTT platforms, this opens up a fresh revenue stream without diluting the premium experience that subscribers expect.
Chaupal chief executive officer Sandeep Bansal said the move balances growth with user trust. “By partnering with Frodoh, we are introducing a sophisticated ‘first-screen’ monetisation layer that integrates seamlessly into our UI, ensuring discovery remains native and non-intrusive while keeping content consumption ad-free.”
From Frodoh’s side, the pitch is clear: expand the ad pie without cluttering the screen. Frodoh founder and chief executive officer Russhabh R Thakkar said the framework creates a new category of advertising by unlocking high-visibility home screen inventory that was previously untapped.
Industry watchers see this as part of a broader shift in OTT monetisation strategies, especially as subscription platforms look to diversify revenue without risking churn. With connected TV usage rising steadily, the home screen is quickly becoming the next battleground for attention.
If the model scales, this partnership could signal a subtle but significant shift in how OTT platforms monetise, proving that sometimes, the most valuable ad space is the one you see before the show even begins.
