Head of Growth & Performance

About the position

Warner Bros. Discovery is seeking a dynamic and strategic Ad Sales Leader to drive growth in key emerging revenue areas, including Advanced Advertising, Programmatic Sales, and Direct Response. This role will be responsible for developing and executing sales strategies that capitalize on evolving marketplace trends, leveraging data-driven solutions, and building high-impact partnerships to maximize revenue. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in digital and linear ad sales, deep knowledge of performance-based advertising models, and the ability to navigate the rapidly changing media landscape. This role will collaborate heavily with portal teams across NY and the regions to ensure alignment with the overall Ad Sales strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead and expand revenue opportunities in Advanced Advertising, Programmatic Sales, and Direct Response, ensuring alignment with overall ad sales strategy.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities across digital, CTV, streaming, and data-driven advertising solutions.
• Drive adoption of programmatic sales channels, working closely with SSPs, DSPs, and agency trading desks.
• Develop direct response advertising strategies that deliver measurable performance for clients.
• Collaborate with pricing and planning teams to create competitive and innovative sales packages.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brands, agencies, ad tech partners, and key industry stakeholders.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, evolving ad technologies, and shifts in consumer behavior to inform sales strategy.
• Partner with research and analytics teams to leverage data insights and enhance targeting capabilities.
• Work cross-functionally with product, operations, and content teams to optimize ad formats and monetization strategies.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing sales team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and results-driven execution.
• Provide thought leadership and training to internal teams on advanced advertising trends and best practices.
• Partner with internal stakeholders across finance, product, and operations to streamline sales processes and maximize efficiency.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in media sales, with a strong background in Advanced Advertising, Programmatic, and Direct Response Sales.
• Deep understanding of programmatic ecosystems, data-driven advertising, and measurement solutions.
• Proven track record of driving revenue growth and exceeding sales targets.
• Strong relationships with agencies, brands, and ad tech partners.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to analyze market trends and translate insights into actionable sales strategies.

Nice-to-haves

• Client-Centric: Passionate about delivering best-in-class advertising experiences, ensuring top-tier client retention and satisfaction.
• Strategic Thinker: Capable of balancing short-term revenue execution with long-term innovation.
• Collaborative Leader: A true team player who excels at working across organizations and fostering alignment between sales, content, and product.
• Industry Presence: A visible industry executive who can represent CNN at key advertising events and confidently engage C-suite partners.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Employee wellness program
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays and sick time
• Vacation