OpenAP Names Warner Sales President Ryan Gould Chairman

Ryan Gould, the executive overseeing U.S. advertising sales for Warner Bros. Discovery, has been appointed as the new chairman of the industry consortium OpenAP in New York, effective immediately, succeeding John Halley to lead the organization's mission of standardizing digital advertising practices across competing media companies. This leadership transition comes as the advertising industry grapples with fragmentation and seeks more efficient ways to buy and measure ads in an increasingly complex digital landscape. OpenAP, founded by major media companies including Fox, NBCUniversal, and ViacomCBS (now Paramount), serves as a crucial collaborative platform aimed at creating common technical standards and data solutions for advanced television and digital video advertising. Gould's appointment signals Warner Bros. Discovery's continued commitment to this industry-wide initiative, which seeks to simplify the ad-buying process by making different publishers' inventory more interoperable through shared audience targeting frameworks and measurement protocols. The consortium's work has gained significance as traditional television advertising models evolve toward more digital-like, audience-based buying. As chairman, Gould will help steer OpenAP's strategic direction, balancing the competitive interests of member companies with the collective need for standardization that benefits advertisers seeking scalable, transparent campaigns. His extensive experience in overseeing national ad sales for Warner Bros. Discovery's portfolio of networks and streaming platforms positions him to navigate the complex relationships between legacy media companies, streaming services, and technology partners. This leadership change follows the departure of John Halley, who previously held the chairman role while serving as head of ad sales for Paramount. The continuity of leadership from another major media company underscores how OpenAP has maintained its relevance as a neutral ground for collaboration despite ongoing consolidation and competition in the media industry. Gould's tenure will likely focus on expanding adoption of OpenAP's standards, particularly as connected TV and streaming video continue to capture larger shares of advertising budgets.