Pinterest building out ad targeting and formats with two key hires
Pinterest has hired two former Google executives to join its advertising team. Former VP of product management of Google’s shopping and travel products, Jon Alferness, joins as head of ad products, and Meredith Guerriero as head of partnerships. Alferness will help develop targeting and ad format products for Pinterest. Guerriero, who will join the New York office, worked for Facebook as director of health, grocery and politics ad verticals since 2015.  

Pinterest is after Google’s talent. The San Francisco-based company has scooped up two Google execs as it looks to build out its advertising team.

Jon Alferness, formerly vp of product management of Google’s shopping and travel products, has been named head of ad products at Pinterest. Alferness worked at Google for nearly 13 years and spent roughly half of that time working with Google search ads, mobile display promos and the AdMob ad network.

With Pinterest, Alferness will lead product organization and help develop and roll out global advertising products such as targeting and ad formats, per Pinterest.