Criteo S.A. filed an 8-K press release on October 29, 2026, announcing the appointment of Jianchang "JC" Mao as an independent director and the simultaneous departure of Edmond Mesrobian from the company's Board of Directors, both effective October 28, 2026.

Key Highlights

  • New director appointed: Jianchang "JC" Mao joined Criteo's Board of Directors as an independent director, effective October 28, 2026.
  • Extensive background: According to the filing, Mao has more than 30 years of experience in AI, digital advertising, and search, including more than 20 years leading global research, product, and engineering organizations.
  • Prior roles: The filing states Mao previously served as Vice President of Engineering for Google Assistant and as Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Microsoft Advertising Product and Engineering.
  • Current role: Mao is described as a General Partner and Distinguished Fellow at Fellows Fund, an investment firm focused on AI-native companies.
  • Mesrobian departure: Edmond Mesrobian stepped down from the Board effective October 28, 2026, after what the filing describes as nearly a decade of service beginning in 2017.
  • No disagreement cited: The filing states Mesrobian's "decision to step down was not the result of any disagreement with the Company or the Board on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices."

Board Composition Change at Criteo: Mao In, Mesrobian Out

Criteo S.A. (NASDAQ:CRTO) announced two simultaneous changes to its Board of Directors, both taking effect October 28, 2026. Jianchang "JC" Mao was appointed as an independent director, while Edmond Mesrobian stepped down after serving on the Board since 2017, according to the filing.

The filing describes Mao as holding a Ph.D. in computer science from Michigan State University, as well as master's and bachelor's degrees from East China Normal University. He is identified as a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Earlier in his career, the filing notes, Mao served as Vice President of Advertising Sciences at Yahoo!, held technology leadership roles at Verity, and began his career as a researcher at IBM's Almaden Research Center. His appointment adds a background in large language models, natural language processing, and speech technologies to the board, areas in which he led work during his tenure at Google, according to the filing.

Rik van der Kooi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, was quoted in the filing as saying Mao's "combination of deep technical expertise, global operating experience and proven leadership across advertising and consumer technology will be a tremendous asset to Criteo." Regarding Mesrobian's departure, van der Kooi credited him with contributions to Criteo's technology strategy since 2017. The filing includes a statement from Mesrobian indicating the departure was his own decision and noting no disagreement with the company or board on operational matters.

What Was Disclosed

Criteo disclosed the appointment of JC Mao as an independent director and the resignation of Edmond Mesrobian from its Board of Directors, both effective October 28, 2026. The filing confirmed Mesrobian's exit involved no disagreement with company leadership on any matter.