Pandora’s Chief Technology Officer Tom Conrad announced on the company blog that he’s shifting to an advisory role, and that Vice President of Engineering Chris Martin will be taking his place as CTO.
In an email to the company that Conrad included in his post, he noted that he’s been at Pandora for 10 years now. He started thinking about leaving “maybe 18 months ago,” but he put those plans on hold after the departure of CEO Joe Kennedy, who was eventually replaced by former Microsoft ad executive Brian McAndrews last fall.
Conrad wrote:
My focus for the last twelve months has been to ensure that the company landed confidently in the hands of an exceptional new leader. We’ve found that leader in [Pandora’s new CEO] Brian. As I look at the revitalized executive leadership team he has put in place, consider the great leaders on my own team, and contemplate the exciting roadmap we’ve set for the future, I’ve decided that all the pieces are in place to allow me to step aside and let others write the next chapters.
Conrad plans to be full-time at Pandora for another three months, then he’ll move to a part-time role, “advising the company and offering support as Brian sees fit.” Martin’s promotion to CTO is effective today. The company is also promoting Vice President of Technical Operations Steve Ginsberg to the role of chief information officer, and looking for a chief product officer, too.
Here’s an interview we did with Conrad at the Consumer Electronics Show last year.