Mike Napodano as Operative’s CEO will drive AI and platform expansion

Operative, a provider of advertising and media management technology, has announced a major strategic move, appointing Mike Napodano as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment signals the organisation’s commitment to accelerating platform innovation, deepening customer partnerships, and expanding the adoption of its AI-powered product suite across the global media industry.

The leadership change comes at a pivotal time as Operative enters its next phase of growth, aiming to solidify its leadership position by delivering greater operational excellence and scalable innovation to its global customer base of broadcasters, streamers, and digital publishers.

Napodano said, “This is an exciting moment for Operative. We’ve built a remarkable foundation of world-class products, deep customer partnerships, and a trusted position with the biggest brands in media. As the industry continues to evolve, our focus is on scaling that foundation with the technology and intelligence that help our clients operate smarter, grow faster, and unlock new value across every screen.”

Napodano brings more than 25 years of experience in technology and operational leadership within the media and entertainment industry. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Disney ABC Television Group, overseeing enterprise initiatives across advertising technology and content distribution. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice-President and Chief Information Officer for Sales, Research, & Analytics at NBCUniversal, where he modernised the company’s data and technology operations.

Since joining Operative in 2019, Napodano has been instrumental in scaling the organisation’s cloud solutions, enhancing delivery capabilities, and strengthening relationships with leading global media organisations.

“The pace of change in media has never been faster, and Operative is uniquely positioned at the centre of that transformation,” Napodano stated. “Our vision is to be the connective platform that unites technology, data, and operations across the ecosystem. We’re enabling media companies to innovate with agility, optimise performance, and realise the full value of their audiences and content.”

Operative’s end-to-end solutions, including AOS, Operative.One, and Adeline AI, serve as the monetisation backbone for some of the biggest players in the industry, underscoring their influence on how global media companies manage and monetise their content across linear and digital platforms.