Nick Galassi: Leading a company in today’s advertising technology industry takes more than financial insight and smart strategies- it requires vision, creativity, and the ability to connect people and ideas. That is exactly what Nick Galassi, the Chief Financial Officer and President of Mediaocean, brings to the table. He combines his strong background in finance with a sharp sense of innovation and a genuine focus on teamwork. Under his leadership, Mediaocean has grown into a trusted global platform that connects every part of the advertising industry.
From Finance to Technology: A Journey of Growth
Nick Galassi’s career has been anything but one-dimensional. He began his professional journey in finance and accounting, where he built a strong foundation in financial management. But his curiosity and leadership abilities soon led him beyond the numbers. Over time, he took on roles in technology, operations, and client services, which gave him a full picture of how every part of a business works together.
When he joined MediaBank, Galassi’s responsibilities expanded to include not only finance but also technology and client-facing teams. This experience helped him understand how strategy, product development, and customer success are all connected. When MediaBank merged with Donovan Data Systems, forming Mediaocean, his role became even more significant. He had to help unite two large companies with different systems and cultures into one powerful, international organization.
This combination of financial expertise, operational insight, and people skills shaped Galassi’s approach to leadership. Today, he focuses on building bridges between finance and innovation to drive Mediaocean’s growth while maintaining balance and stability.
Building One Strong Team
For Galassi, one of the biggest lessons from his time at Mediaocean is that successful integration starts with people, not technology. When two large companies come together, it is not just about merging systems or tools- it’s about bringing together different teams and cultures.
During the merger of MediaBank and Donovan Data Systems, Galassi made sure that everyone felt part of a shared mission. That approach continued with later acquisitions, including Innovid, which strengthened Mediaocean’s capabilities in creative delivery and measurement. He believes that open communication, cultural alignment, and collaboration are key to turning integration challenges into opportunities for growth.
By focusing on people first, Galassi has built a company culture where every team member feels valued and connected to the same purpose.
Balancing Discipline and Innovation
Leading a private equity-owned company means keeping a careful balance between financial performance and innovation. For Galassi, this balance is what keeps Mediaocean strong.
He believes that financial discipline makes innovation possible. By keeping finances stable and transparent, the company can take smart risks and invest confidently in new technology. His data-driven approach allows him to support new ideas while ensuring they bring measurable value.
Galassi works closely with Mediaocean’s business leaders to review goals, evaluate investment opportunities, and track performance. He encourages every team to back their creative ideas with solid data and clear plans. This culture of accountability and creativity allows Mediaocean to stay innovative without losing focus on profitability.
Connecting Products and Profit
With experience in both finance and engineering, Galassi understands how to align product development with business goals. He sees innovation and profitability as partners that depend on each other.
At Mediaocean, every new product or feature goes through a thoughtful evaluation process that considers cost, customer impact, and long-term growth. The company’s platforms: Prisma, Innovid, and Protected are great examples of this balance. Each one strengthens Mediaocean’s mission to help advertisers manage, deliver, and measure campaigns across multiple channels while supporting the company’s financial goals.
Galassi’s approach ensures that every dollar invested supports both innovation and sustainability. It also keeps Mediaocean flexible enough to adapt to clients’ needs in a fast-moving market.
Preparing for the Future of Advertising
Looking ahead, Galassi sees artificial intelligence (AI) as the biggest force shaping the future of advertising technology. Inside Mediaocean, AI helps automate routine tasks so employees can focus on strategic and creative work. For clients, AI opens new ways to plan, deliver, and measure ad campaigns with greater precision and personalization.
“The shift from traditional to digital media has changed everything,” Galassi says. “When we started, digital made up a small part of advertising spend. Now it’s the majority, and still growing.”
By continuing to invest in its digital platforms and AI-powered solutions, Mediaocean is preparing for an omnichannel future where brands can reach audiences across every screen and platform.
Lessons from an Early Success
Before joining Mediaocean, Galassi helped lead InnerWorkings through a successful IPO in 2006. That experience taught him valuable lessons about transparency, communication, and discipline. Managing relationships with investors and regulators during the public offering strengthened his belief in the importance of accountability and clarity.
Even though Mediaocean is now a privately held company, Galassi continues to apply those same principles. He runs the organization with the precision of a public company—open, data-driven, and focused on measurable results. This approach builds trust not just with investors but also with clients and employees.
Values That Shape Leadership
A proud Notre Dame graduate and Certified Public Accountant, Galassi credits his education for shaping his professional values. Integrity, teamwork, and accountability are at the core of his leadership style. He believes that good leaders must be approachable, fair, and willing to listen.
Many of his direct reports have worked with him for more than a decade- a reflection of the loyalty and trust he inspires. Galassi encourages his team to take ownership of their work and make decisions confidently, knowing he will support them. When he needs to step in, he always explains his reasoning, turning every moment into an opportunity for learning.
For Galassi, true leadership means empowering others. “Trust and respect come first,” he says. “When people feel connected to the company’s mission, they perform at their best.”
A Vision for the Future
Nick Galassi’s career shows that strong leadership is about more than financial skill, it’s about creating balance between strategy, innovation, and people. At Mediaocean, he continues to guide the company with a clear purpose: to be the technology foundation of global advertising.
Through his mix of financial expertise, operational insight, and genuine care for people, Galassi has built a culture of growth and trust. His journey proves that success in today’s business world doesn’t come from numbers alone—it comes from leading with both the head and the heart.
“Leadership begins with trust. My goal is to empower people to succeed and stay connected to our mission.” – Nick Galassi, CFO & President, Mediaocean
