Pandora Beefs Up Ad Sales Staff

  • March 19, 2012

In the wake of a disappointing earnings report in its fiscal fourth quarter, online radio service Pandora named a trio of new advertising executive appointments. Tommy Pizzo, formerly with BrightRoll, joins Pandora as regional vice president for the East Coast. Based out of the company’s New York office, Pizzo will focus on providing clients with innovative, cross-platform ad solutions.

Pandora also hired Brian Colbert as vice president for mobile advertising sales, charged with helping marketers reach their desired audiences across its mobile properties. Previously, he was senior director of mobile ad sales and strategy at ESPN.

Pandora also promoted Brian Mikalis to SVP, monetization and mid-market sales, focusing on generating more revenue from the company’s growing mobile audience.

The company earlier this month reported revenue and usage growth in its fourth quarter ending Jan. 31, but posted a widening loss and missed sales and earnings forecasts. The weaker-than-expected results stemmed in part from slowing advertising demand at the same time that listening hours were increasing rapidly, leading to lower ad pricing that hurt the bottom line.

The new hires reflect Pandora’s stated goal of building out its local and regional sales force and improving mobile monetization efforts.

--Mark Walsh

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