Nift has appointed former Yahoo boss John McNerney as general manager to lead its expansion into Australia and APAC region.
Nift helps retail media networks, fintech and travel companies generate incremental revenue while supporting customer engagement and loyalty.
McNerney, a senior advertising and data technology executive, most recently served as Yahoo’s Australia and Southeast Asia leader.
Based in Sydney, he will report to Nift chief revenue officer Saket Mehta and will be responsible for launching and scaling Nift’s platform across the region.
“APAC is a strategically important market for Nift as commerce platforms look for new ways to drive revenue without compromising customer trust,” Mehta said.
“John brings deep regional expertise, strong industry relations, and a proven ability to build teams and partnerships in complex markets. He’s exactly the right leader to establish our presence in Australia.”
McNerney brings more than 15 years of international experience spanning SaaS, data and advertising technology, with leadership roles across APAC and EMEA. At Yahoo, he drove growth through product innovation, AI-enabled efficiencies and strategic partnerships, and previously served as an IAB board member and advisor to emerging technology ventures. His earlier international experience includes leadership roles at ComScore and Verizon Media.
“The open web is undergoing a fundamental transformation as AI shifts consumer behaviour from search to discovery,” McNerney said.
“Nift is at the heart of this evolution, helping commerce partners drive deeper loyalty and brand affinity by delivering personalised value as Nift sits at the intersection of commerce, data and experience. Australia is a natural launch market for Nift, and I’m excited to build our presence here as we expand across the broader APAC region.”
Nift’s expansion into APAC follows its recent launch in the UK and continued growth across North America. More than 14,500 brands partner with Nift globally, delivering over 50 million experience-led moments each month.
