Amazon hires former NBCU exec Krishan Bhatia to lead Prime Video sales

Amazon has hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Krishan Bhatia to lead sales for its growing streaming unit, including Prime Video, Freevee, Twitch and live sports. As the VP of global video advertising, Bhatia will report to Alan Moss, VP of global ad sales for Amazon Ads. Check out the latest upfront news here Check out the latest Ad Age events and award programs “I have spent my career building, growing, and transforming media businesses,” said Bhatia in an internal memo obtained by Ad Age. “I’m incredibly motivated by what Amazon is doing in this space, and can’t wait to dive in with this team.” Bhatia spent more than a decade at NBCU leading innovation in the company’s digital, streaming and data products and managing its ad partnerships, including with Amazon. He played a significant role in the launch of Peacock as an ad-supported platform before many of its competitors had incorporated ad tiers. Bhatia announced his departure from NBCU in September as the company was finalizing its ad leadership following the departure of long-time ad chief Linda Yaccarino to X. Bhatia has also been part of the ongoing conversation around media measurement. He has played a prominent role in the U.S. Joint Industry Committee, launched last year to set measurement standards and certify third-party providers, and has served on the board of directors for cross-industry measurement leader OpenAP. Before his tenure at NBCU, Bhatia spent six years at Comcast Interactive Media and led integrations with NBC’s ad unit after its acquisition in 2011. Amazon launched ads for its Prime Video streamer in January, requiring users to pay an additional monthly fee for no ads. While the rush of streaming ad inventory excited many media buyers, most criticized the tech giant’s timing to the TV ad market outside of the traditional upfront cycle and amid a challenged market. Still, Prime Video’s initial promise of as many as 115 million viewers and innovative ad formats tied to its retail media network create an enticing offer, with some buyers describing the platform as an industry disruptor ahead of this year’s upfront buying season.

Amazon hires former NBCU exec to lead Prime Video sales

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