Pinterest Poaches Amazon’s Super Bowl Marketer as New CMO

Pinterest Inc. is bolstering its executive ranks with a high-profile hire from e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. The visual discovery platform named Claudine Cheever, formerly Amazon’s vice president of global brand and marketing, as its new chief marketing officer. The appointment, announced on January 20, 2026, comes amid Pinterest’s push to expand its advertising revenue and integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into its user experience.

Cheever steps into the role previously held by Andréa Mallard, who departed earlier this month after over seven years at the company. Mallard had joined from Gap Inc.’s Athleta brand in 2018 as Pinterest’s first global CMO, overseeing brand expansion and cultural partnerships before moving to Microsoft AI in a similar capacity, according to Adweek and Social Samosa .

At Amazon, Cheever led five Super Bowl campaigns and spearheaded launches of flagship products like Alexa, bringing proven expertise in large-scale brand activations to Pinterest’s 600 million monthly active users, as noted by CEO Bill Ready on LinkedIn and reported in MediaPost .

Cheever’s Amazon Legacy

Cheever’s tenure at Amazon positioned her as a key architect of the company’s global marketing strategy. She oversaw brand efforts across consumer divisions, including high-stakes advertising during the NFL’s biggest game. ‘At Amazon, Claudine Cheever oversaw five Super Bowl campaigns and the launch of flagship products including Alexa,’ MediaPost detailed. Her work earned her a spot on Forbes’ 2024 Entrepreneurial CMO 50 list, recognizing her innovative approaches to customer engagement, per Forbes .

Prior accolades include Campaign US’s CMO 50 in 2024, where she was highlighted as Amazon’s VP of global brand and marketing, according to Campaign US . This background equips her to tackle Pinterest’s challenges in a competitive ad market dominated by Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

Pinterest’s move signals a strategic pivot toward performance-driven growth. The company simultaneously created a chief business officer role, appointing Lee Brown to lead global ad sales and partnerships, as confirmed by Ready and covered in Marketing-Interactive .

Timing Amid Executive Shifts

The hires follow Pinterest’s progress under Ready, who has driven monthly active users to 600 million over three and a half years while building an AI-powered shopping and ads engine. ‘Bill Ready confirmed the appointments on LinkedIn, citing progress over three and a half years, 600 million MAUs and growth of an AI-led shopping and ads platform,’ reported BestMediaInfo .

Cheever’s arrival addresses a leadership gap left by Mallard, whose exit was confirmed two weeks prior. Pinterest did not immediately disclose her start date but emphasized the need to scale advertising amid rising competition. eMarketer noted the platform’s shift to yield-focused strategies, reinforcing commerce and connected TV initiatives, in eMarketer .

Industry observers see Cheever’s experience as a fit for Pinterest’s commerce ambitions. The platform, known for inspiration-driven discovery, has leaned into shoppable pins and AI recommendations to boost ad revenue per user.

Strategic Bets on AI and Commerce

Pinterest’s leadership refresh aligns with its goal to accelerate growth in a performance-oriented ad environment. Cheever will likely oversee marketing for AI-enhanced features like visual search and personalized feeds, building on Amazon-honed skills in product launches. Ad Age first reported: ‘Amazon’s VP of global brand and marketing is joining Pinterest.’

Alongside Brown, who brings sales expertise, the duo aims to elevate average revenue per user. TipRanks highlighted Brown’s appointment—referred to as Claude (Lee) Brown in one instance—to oversee business operations, per TipRanks , underscoring a comprehensive C-suite overhaul.

Cheever’s contact details, including her Amazon email, surfaced in professional databases like ZoomInfo , reflecting her prominence before the transition. Her role at Pinterest positions her to blend brand storytelling with data-driven advertising.

Broader Industry Implications

For advertisers, Cheever’s hire promises more sophisticated campaigns leveraging Pinterest’s unique visual inventory. The platform’s 600 million users skew female and Gen Z, offering targeted reach for retail and lifestyle brands. This contrasts with Amazon’s mass-market approach, where Cheever managed broad consumer touchpoints.

Ready’s LinkedIn post emphasized scaling global ads, a priority as Pinterest reports quarterly earnings. Investors reacted positively, viewing the hires as steps toward monetization efficiency. The company’s stock has shown resilience amid tech sector volatility.

Competitors like Instagram and TikTok face similar pressures to evolve beyond engagement metrics. Pinterest’s focus on commerce—enhanced by AI—could differentiate it, with Cheever’s Super Bowl pedigree adding firepower to awareness efforts.

Looking Ahead to Execution

Cheever’s integration will test Pinterest’s agility in marrying inspiration with transactions. Her Amazon playbook, proven in high-pressure launches, arrives at a moment when platforms must justify ad spend through measurable results. Early signals point to connected TV expansions and yield optimization as key arenas.

As Pinterest navigates 2026, these appointments signal confidence in its trajectory. With Cheever at the helm of marketing, the company aims to convert its vast audience into a lucrative ad powerhouse, drawing on her track record of blockbuster campaigns and strategic product rollouts.