Leadership Team

Connexity is led by a committed and passionate team. Our leaders maintain an exceptional culture managing over 200 advertising, analytics, technical and operational professionals across US and Europe. Connexity’s leadership team has steered the company to high growth and radical transformation, overseeing several successful acquisitions and growing our global footprint over the last 5 years.

ALL
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

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Tara Fraser

SVP, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

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Bob Caputo

EVP, CONNEXITY MERCHANT ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

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Blythe Holden

GENERAL COUNSEL, TABOOLA / CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER

Bob Michaelian

PRESIDENT

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Bill Glass

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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Phil Scutt

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Michael Nguyen

SVP, CONNEXITY PRODUCT

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Melanie Weckenmann

SVP, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS

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Ryan Curran

SVP, TRAFFIC ACQUISITION & ANALYTICS

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Tara Fraser

SVP, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Today

As SVP of Program Management, Tara oversees and orchestrates the execution of all product development areas of the company and is responsible for overseeing all strategic initiatives. Tara leads a team of project managers who work hand-in-hand with product and engineering teams to organize activities across all projects and continually optimize processes. A Connexity veteran having joined the company in 2005, she has been a driving force behind the company’s process and delivery for the past 13 years.

Yesterday

Tara started her career in online production at The Walt Disney Company, where she spent several years as the Executive Producer of the eCommerce Division, and then went on to lead the redesign of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Online – the precursors to the hugely popular Disneyland and Disneyworld apps. Tara left Disney for an email marketing start up, Dynamics Direct, where she was the head of Production and Client Services.

A native Californian, Tara does her best to live the California dream: weekend trips, live music, outdoor wine tastings and spending time with her beloved (and spoiled!) English Retriever, Goose.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

Peloton

Peloton exercise Bike

I need to keep up with my at-home exercise game even during COVID lockdowns!

Avaline White Blend

"Clean", sugar-free wine

I recently tried out this new “clean” and sugar free wine. It's delicious! So, I bought a case.

KONG SqueakAir Balls

Dog toys

I'm always having to restock packs on Kong balls for my dog Goose. He either loses them, or eats the cover off!

Bob Caputo

EVP, CONNEXITY MERCHANT ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

Today

As EVP, Merchant Account Management, Bob is responsible for the on-going service and continued growth of Connexity merchant campaigns globally. A Connexity veteran with over 20 years with the company, Bob has developed strong Account teams and has instilled a foundation of results-oriented management and mentorship within his organization.

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Bob joined Connexity in 2000 and has served various roles from senior account management to VP of Sales and Account Management. Prior to Connexity, Bob held sales, account management, and business development roles with Overture (formerly GoTo.com), The Los Angeles Times and General Mills.

A graduate of Georgetown, Bob also holds an MBA from the George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management, Pepperdine University. When he’s not burning the midnight oil at Connexity, Bob can be found hiking the trails of Runyon or Fryman canyon with his golden retriever, Brockton.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

Echelon EX3

Exercise Bike

Like most of us, keep fit even while staying home most of the time has become a priority.

Allbirds Loungers

Wool loungers from Allbirds

These lounge shoes are great for shuffling around at home. They're super comfortable!

Andre Sofa

Sofa from Room&Board

Blythe Holden

GENERAL COUNSEL, TABOOLA / CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER

Today

As General Counsel for Taboola and Chief Legal Officer at Connexity, Blythe directs all of the company’s legal affairs both domestically and abroad. In addition to providing counsel on company policy day to day, Blythe is the key protectorate of Connexity’s intellectual property and advisor on legal, policy, compliance and new product initiatives. Blythe joined Connexity in 2005 as Assistant General Counsel and was quickly promoted to General Counsel in 2006.

Blythe’s role has expanded to include management of human resource strategy and operations across Connexity globally. Added to this, Blythe holds an instrumental role in M&A activity. Having worked closely with Bill and other executives, she spearheaded the acquisition of three companies in less than one year in 2015 (Pricegrabber, Become, Hitwise), following with the sale of the Bizrate Insights business to Time, Inc in 2016.

In March 2010, Blythe was instrumental in lobbying for a new Internet tax ordinance, creating a clear tax definition for Internet companies across the Los Angeles County, which helped secure the continued presence of internet businesses in Los Angeles, Connexity included. In 2010, Blythe won the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Corporate Counsel of the Year award. She was also honored by the Daily Journal as one of the 25 Leading General Counsels in California, in 2011.

Yesterday

Prior to Connexity, Blythe built over five years of experience in technology and internet law. In 2002, she served as a VP & Associate Counsel for Panavision, Inc. Prior to that, Blythe joined an idealab! start-up “The .tv Corporation,” informally known as “dotTV.” She began her career at one of Los Angeles’ most renowned law firms, Latham & Watkins, specializing in intellectual property and information technology

Blythe graduated cum laude from the Harvard Law School in 1997, and summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1994. She was also a Harvard Berkman Center for Internet & Society Fellow. An outdoors woman at heart, Blythe enjoys skiing and cycling. She lives in Santa Monica, California with her husband and their two children.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

ASICS Gel Kayano

New ASICS running shoes

As a passionate runner, I go through shoes quickly. This is yet another pair of ASICS Gel Kayano’s from Roadrunner Sports.

Kass Desk

Kass Desk from Wayfair

This desk is even better-in-real-life desk and serves as my work-from-home station during the COVID pandemic.

Bananagrams

Bananagrams game

You've got to keep the kids busy at home during quarantine. Banagrams are great fun and help keep the kids focused on learning.

Bob Michaelian

PRESIDENT

Today

Bob has been the heart and soul of the company since joining in 1999. During his tenure at Connexity, Bob has served numerous roles including head of Product and Business Operations, Traffic Acquisition and Strategy. As the President of Connexity Commerce, he currently oversees sales and business development, product, technology and business operations.

In 2002, Bob helped build a world-class traffic acquisition operation that quickly catapulted Bizrate to be one of the best-indexed sites in the shopping space. In 2003, Bob was part of the team that worked to scale the product search engine to be able to index over 100 million products, an accomplishment that allowed the company to not only grow in capacity, but also serve up products in a more relevant fashion to consumers. Bob was also integral to launching the company’s three international properties, evolving them from technology prototypes to commercial successes. Bob helped lead the Become.com and Pricegrabber acquisitions in 2015 and has been intimately involved in growing Connexity’s EU business. He was also one of the primary architects behind Connexity’s proprietary pricing platform.

Yesterday

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Bob received his MBA and his BA in Economics from the University of California Irvine. When he’s not moonlighting as the President of the Connexity Commerce Division, Bob is a frustrated ping pong player and a fledgling race car driver. Bob races in both the IMSA and Pirelli World Challenge series and has participated multiple times in the 24 hours of Daytona.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

Stilo ST5 GT Carbon

Racing Helmet

I've been racing cars for many years. This is my latest and favorite helmet for racing.

The White Album

Book

Joan Didion

I'm an avid reader and this book is such an interesting collection of essays and works about the history and politics of California.

Facebook The Inside Story

Book

Steven Levy

Bill Glass

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Today

As CEO of Connexity, Bill Glass is responsible for steering business strategy, evangelizing company culture, ensuring business capitalization and providing day-to-day oversight of the company’s business. Bill joined Connexity (then Shopzilla) in 2004 and was a member of the senior executive team that sold Shopzilla to the E.W. Scripps Company in 2005. He was appointed President in 2007 and drove the company’s continued success under Scripps’ ownership. In 2011, he led the successful divestiture of Shopzilla/Connexity from Scripps in partnership with Symphony Technology Group. At that time, Bill was promoted to CEO.

Under Bill’s leadership from 2011 to the present, Connexity has completed a successful transformation from a comparison shopping company to a leading technology and data-driven retail performance marketing company. This transformation included executing several successful acquisitions and a significant evolution of the company’s business model.

Yesterday

Before joining Connexity, Bill spent several years serving in executive-level product management capacities at Vivendi Universal’s Internet Division and at a San Francisco-based online entertainment startup. Earlier in his career, Bill also spent four years in technology project management and operations at Electronic Data Systems. Bill holds an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California at San Diego. When he’s not leading the charge at Connexity, Bill can be found on the beach in the Pacific Palisades where he lives with his wife, three daughters and two dogs and where he continues his search for the perfect margarita.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

Ooni Koda 16

$499

Gas-Powered Pizza Oven

Ooni Pizza Ovens

During the COVID pandemic my family took up a number of artistic hobbies. My own artistic efforts manifested in the form of an ongoing quest for both the perfect pizza and the perfect margarita.

Takayama Scorpion 2

$549

Softop Surfboard

Takayama

Surfing is a new passion of mine. This board has the perfect blend of quickness and control for helping me hone my skills on the waves.

MG4+

$185

Golf Shoes

G/Fore

Every golfer needs a great pair of shoes. I've invested in decent equipment over the years playing the game and these shoes keep my swing firmly planted while providing comfort and style.

Phil Scutt

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Today

As CFO of Connexity Phil is responsible for managing financial strategy and overseeing all financial functions for the company. Phil leads a Global Finance and Accounting team passionately committed to providing robust control, accurate reporting and partnership with internal and external stakeholders to optimize performance and productivity.

Phil lives with his wife and 2 kids and when not managing his calendar for global time-zones can be found enjoying most outdoor sports & activities whenever possible. Age has caught up on him a little and league Football and Rugby matches have been traded for Golf, Tennis, Running, Kayaking and Skiing these days. Phil is also a keen musician and sits on the board of directors of a local non-for-profit organization

Yesterday

Phil began his career at Deloitte in Audit Assurance and Advisory Services, achieving his ACA credentials and managing Audit engagements. After leaving Deloitte to join Experian, Phil held a variety of Financial Controller and Director roles predominantly within their Marketing Services business divisions during his 8 years with the company. Phil was part of the executive team leading the sale of the Consumer Insights group from Experian to Connexity in 2015.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

DKN Runtech

Treadmill

The weather can be a bit choppy where I live. So, if it closes in or if the Kids need sitting, this purchase has been invaluable in maintaining fitness and having a way to track how you are performing.

Nord Stage 2EX 88 Stage Piano

Electronic piano

If you regularly watch live music, you’ll spot one of these being used by the keyboard player in the band in no time. Beautifully designed and thought out, the sound quality is inspiring and simple to link into the expanding world of digital music and recording.

Devolo Magic 2-2400

Powerline LAN for mesh Wi-Fi

The hope is that it can give a little more wifi muscle to the home-office as ‘lockdown living’ has increased demand on our household’s connectivity capabilities!

Michael Nguyen

SVP, CONNEXITY PRODUCT

Today

As Connexity Commerce’s SVP of Product, Michael is responsible for product and design for all Connexity Commerce experiences. He oversees both consumer-facing and revenue generating products. His team is responsible for the end-to-end customer experience, including: Marketplace, Merchant, Publisher, and Sites across desktop and mobile devices, and internal platforms enabling Connexity Commerce’s marketplace performance.

Michael joined Connexity in 2006, as one of Connexity’s earliest traffic acquisition employees. In 2017, he became Senior Vice President of Product, after serving as Vice President of Product and Director of SEO. Before Connexity, Michael served as Director of R&D for SEO Inc., a digital marketing agency. Prior to that, Michael worked in a technical capacity for The Aerospace Corporation, a federally funded research center providing technical guidance on space missions.

Yesterday

Before turning his attention to customers, Michael studied Neuroscience at UCLA. He now spends his time researching users instead of neurons, who are even more complicated and much harder to predict. A SoCal native, Michael never moved away, and lives with his high school sweetheart, son, daughter and chihuahua. He enjoys cycling and exploring with his family.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

Deep Learning for Coders

Coding book for fast.ai and PyTorch

I’m always reading. My my recent book is helping me to keep up with the latest regarding new technology practices.

Alfie Pet Feeding Tube

Aquarium feeding tube

My kids have both fish and pet frogs in our aquarium. It turns out that frogs are much slower eaters than fish. So, we installed a tube that helps separate the food at feedings, giving the frogs a better opportunity.

CURT Class 3 Trailer Hitch

CURT Class 3 Trailer Hitch

Biking has become a favorite family activity. A trailer hitch like this one allows me to install a rack that can carry all of our bikes and gear.

Melanie Weckenmann

SVP, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS

Today

As SVP of Performance Management & Operations, Melanie is responsible for the business processes around the Connexity retail marketing network in Europe. Together with her international teams in London and Karlsruhe, she is responsible for the development of strategic partnerships and traffic management between online shops and the company’s various traffic channels. Melanie’s focus is on revenue growth and the expansion of Connexity’s footprint in Europe in connection with the respective market-specific requirements. Her track record demonstrates the importance of the European business for the company’s overall turnover.

Yesterday

Melanie joined the company in 2006 and has held various positions including Director of Publisher Program and VP of Sales & Business Development. Today her responsibilities include account management, traffic acquisition, monetization and product data management.

Melanie holds an MBA degree from Steinbeis University Berlin and lives with her husband in Stuttgart. Due to the proximity to the Alps, she has been a passionate skier since the age of four – no winter passes without at least one skiing holiday. And when there is no snow, she likes to play the flute and has recently started trying her hand at playing the piano.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

Casio CT-S300

Electronic Keyboard

I recently started to learn the piano through online courses and bought this keyboard at Thomann.

Gardena city gardening Urlaubsbewässerung

Garden irrigation system

I recently purchased this irrigation system for our tomatoes and herbs.

Technic LEGO Crane

LEGO crane

During lookdown we bought this fancy Lego crane on MyToys and spent a couple of evenings building it together.

Ryan Curran

SVP, TRAFFIC ACQUISITION & ANALYTICS

Today

Ryan and his team are responsible for all operations, reporting and pricing needs in support of the Connexity Commerce marketplace. As SVP of Traffic Acquisition & Analytics, Ryan leads Connexity’s internal paid traffic acquisition efforts (SEM, Product Listing Ads, Social), as well as overseeing all pricing optimization efforts on behalf of partners, and actively manages core business operations for Connexity Commerce. Ryan joined Connexity in 2006 and has served in various roles throughout the Traffic Acquisition and Pricing verticals.

Yesterday

Prior to Connexity, he spent five years in corporate finance and risk management at Aon Corporation.

Loyal to ACC schools, Ryan holds an MBA from Duke University and a BBA degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame. When not working, he often can be found watching college football, NCAA basketball, running in the roasting Texan heat, or playing with his three sons and wife in their backyard.

Shopping motivations

Favorite purchases

Cornhole

Cornhole outdoor game

You've got to keep the kids busy and active. A traditional cornhole toss game is great for that.

Bug Bite Thing

The "Bug Bite Thing" suction tool for extracting venom

Living in a warm climate, bugs are a constant nuisance and this is a great help.

Garmin Fenix 5

GPS enabled sports watch

With a great GPS system, the Garmin watch is helpful for tracking runs, keeping up with exercise, for hiking or for any outdoor activity.