Who is OpenAI’s global head of ads, David Dugan?

April 08, 2026 Presented by In the spring of 2006, a young strategist at Digitas named David Dugan was handed an assignment: help figure out what the agency was worth, and what to do about it. The work was delicate, and it required someone who could think in two registers at once, the analytical and the transactional. Digitas would be sold to Publicis the following year. Dugan moved on. But the people who worked alongside him during those months didn’t forget him. Advertisement TOP STORY Marketing on Platforms Who is OpenAI's global head of ads, David Dugan? Digiday talked to people who’ve known him throughout his career to find out exactly why OpenAI believe he’s the right person for the job. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW Nine seats remain for the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit, May 6–8 in Palm Springs. Connect directly with programmatic leaders from Havas, Publicis, OMD and many others. Learn more and secure your pass. Combining CTV with purchase data allows marketers to optimize for business outcomes instead of viewership, particularly as streaming platforms introduce more shoppable formats. Partner insights from Circana. Connect with leaders from Anthropologie, Yeti, Gap and many others at the Modern Retail Marketing Summit from April 20-22 in Huntington Beach. Learn more and use code LASTCALL to save. A MESSAGE FROM PEBBLEPOST CTV advertising that proves incremental impact Most CTV measurement is built on assumed attribution, not actual proof. PebblePost Performance CTV uses collaborative first-party transaction data from hundreds of leading brands to predict who will buy next, then closes the loop with verified incremental lift. On average, brands see 9x incremental ROAS for acquisition, 10.5x iROAS for retention and 41% conversion rate lift — the kind of numbers that win budget reviews. Learn more MEDIA & PLATFORMS Marketing on Platforms TikTok’s Khartoon Weiss to exit the platform as its N. America lead of global business Weiss, who was North America head of global business solutions at the company, is leaving on Friday, according to a memo shared with clients. Advertisement Member exclusive Digiday+ Research: Publishers apply AI to streamline tasks and improve audience experience Publishers increasingly embed AI tools into daily functions, especially streamlining tasks and improving the audience experience. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM AMAZON ADS Why the Model Context Protocol is the new standard for agent connectivity While each step in a campaign usually requires separate API calls, MCP helps orchestrate these steps — adding a contextual layer so these capabilities are easily usable by AI agents. MARKETING Retail Revolution Google says its AI-powered ads help some brands lift online sales by 80% ModernRetail spoke with Courtney Rose, vp of retail at Google Ads, at Shoptalk Spring about early results from AI-powered campaigns. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM HELIUM 10 Virtual event: Why multichannel expansion is a risk management strategy Retailers have to build intentional channel architectures where Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart and DTC each play a defined role in driving profitable growth. Learn how in a virtual event on April 14. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM PATHLABS Human-led service is an AI differentiator for agencies As AI increases the bar for speed and responsiveness, the best people spend more time coordinating than doing the work only humans can do. Tools meant to simplify can end up costing agencies time, confidence and eventually, accounts. DIGIDAY + Member exclusive Future of TV Briefing: A TV advertising staple is missing from YouTube show sponsorships This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks at the rare practice of YouTube channels offering TV-style make-goods to sponsors as TV-style shows become more commonplace. ICYMI Generative AI Mondelez overhauls its $3.5 billion digital commerce strategy in era of AI search Mondelez is aggressively shifting its digital commerce strategy to optimize for AI, ensuring brands like Oreo dominate agentic search. Written by Jim Cooper and Sara Jerde Were you forwarded this email? Sign up to get it daily. Advertise | Digiday+ | Events | Awards Update your email | Unsubscribe | Privacy policy