IAS Hires Head of Data Science

Media measurement and optimization platform Integral Ad Science (IAS) has appointed longstanding LinkedIn exec Melissa Furze as Head of Data Science.

IAS' platform provides detailed and enriched data helping to ensure that ads are 'seen by real people in safe and suitable environments', while improving return on spend for advertisers and yield for publishers. The company was acquired four months ago by Canada-based private equity firm Novacap, in an all-cash transaction valuing it at around $1.9 billion. Last year it also announced a partnership with Snap Inc., and Lumen Research, to bring customized attention measurement to Snapchat; and launched an AI-powered assistant called IAS Agent.

Furze brings more than two decades of leadership experience in data, analytics, AI and customer insights, most recently from LinkedIn Marketing Solutions where she was Global Vice President of Customer Science, and head of the Executive Team, reporting to LinkedIn's Chief Commercial Officer. In this role she built and led the Customer Science organization, uniting analytics, research, data engineering, AI development, measurement, and solutions engineering into a single global function. This included leading AI transformation strategies, automation initiatives, and the commercialization of advanced data and measurement products. In all she worked in senior leadership positions at LinkedIn for more than a decade, including Global Director of Marketing Insights and in senior analytics leadership roles across EMEA and LATAM. Prior to LinkedIn she held executive analytics roles at organizations including DAA (Dublin Airport Authority), O2 (Telefonica Group), Eircom and Wunderman.

In her new role, reporting to CTO, Furze will lead the company's global data science, AI and analytics strategy.

IAS Chief Executive Lisa Utzschneider says Furze brings 'an exceptional combination of deep technical expertise, global leadership and commercial impact.' She adds: 'Her experience building AI-powered data organizations and translating insights into real customer value will be instrumental as IAS leans into our AI-first strategy to leverage our deep data insights to power new solutions that make advertising more valuable.'

Web site: www.integralads.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.