Ancestry is the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, harnessing a powerful combination of information, science, and technology to develop new experiences to help everyone, everywhere discover the story of what led to them. Ancestry offers a suite of family history products and services including AncestryDNA, Archives, ProGenealogists, Newspapers.com and Fold3.

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Ancestry

As Chief Product Officer at [Ancestry](/org/ancestry), Heather is responsible for opportunities to expand our product offering. She joined [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) in June 2019 as Vice President of Product for [Ancestry](/org/ancestry)Health, responsible for the health product vision and strategy. and brings over two decades of experience in product management at some of the largest and most iconic global technology companies.

Friedland joined [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) after nearly three years as Chief Product Officer and SVP at [Glassdoor](/org/glassdoor) where she led the product, design, international, and customer care and moderation teams, through a period of rapid growth and helped lead [Glassdoor](/org/glassdoor) through its $1.2B acquisition by [Recruit Holdings](/org/recruit-holdings) (parent company to Indeed).

Heather joined [Glassdoor](/org/glassdoor) from [eBay](/org/ebay), where she served as Vice President of Local and Seller Experience, managing products and services that enabled individuals and businesses to sell and connect with buyers. Prior to that role, she was responsible for the overall product and buying experience at [eBay](/org/ebay).

Before [eBay](/org/ebay), she spent 11 years at Microsoft, holding a variety of product and leadership roles, and working on global MSN communication tools such as MSN Hotmail and Calendar, Windows Desktop Search, Windows Live Q&A, and Bing Search functionality. She joined Microsoft in 1999 through the acquisition of startup Jump! Networks.

As a leader in business and technology, Friedland was named one of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence for 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from [Cornell University](/org/cornell-university).

Heather Friedland

Eric is charged with protecting the personal data of millions of Ancestry® subscribers and thousands of employees. He understands that the ever-changing landscape of technology and innovation demands a steadfast commitment to protecting individuals’ data. He’s excited to be at a company that prioritizes privacy as a core element of the value it delivers to consumers.

The availability of DNA testing to consumers is what attracted Eric to work at Ancestry. What was once too expensive and difficult to obtain is now within nearly every consumer’s reach; allowing them to draw upon insights from their own DNA to reveal unique perspectives about their place in history and insights about their health. From his own experience researching his father’s early American settlers’ origins to learning about his immigrant mother’s German roots, Eric has seen AncestryDNA® and Family History tools dispel family myths and inspire his own children.

Eric has cultivated a passion for privacy from his earliest days as a young telecom lawyer when he first learned about data networks and how they effectively scale to bring benefits to millions. He believes education and communication are vital to successful privacy protection, just as understanding and establishing a personal connection with the past is vital to shaping a prosperous and productive future.

Eric Heath

Norrington currently is an advisor and partner for [Lead Edge Capital](/org/lead-edge-capital), a growth equity firm. Previously, she was president of [eBay](/org/ebay) Marketplaces and CEO of Shopping.com Inc., acquired by [eBay](/org/ebay) in 2005. She served as leadership positions at [Intuit](/org/intuit) and General Electric Company. She currently serves on the boards of Colgate-Palmolive, HubSpot, [Autodesk](/org/autodesk) and [Eventbrite](/org/eventbrite).

Lorrie Norrington

D. Barry Starr, Ph.D., is a science communicator and educator whose passion for the last 14 years has been to get people interested in and excited about science in general and genetics in particular. 

Currently, Barry is the Director of Scientific Communications at Ancestry.

As the Director of Outreach Activities at Stanford University’s Department of Genetics he combined his presentation, writing, and museum programming skills with his scientific background and successful online and museum platforms to reach millions of people each year. For example, the Understanding Genetics website he helped to create and now updates and runs receives over 4 million unique visitors each year and his work with The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose CA is seen by over 400,000 visitors annually. Before becoming a science communicator, he worked in a variety of biotech companies where he worked on treating disease by turning specific genes on and off. He did his postdoctoral work with Dr. Keith Yamamoto at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Oregon, and hi B.S. in Biochemistry from California State University, Chico.

Barry Starr

Jennifer’s journey at Ancestry® began more than 20 years ago with a love of editing, writing, and publishing—and a strong desire to remain close to her Utah roots. Today, her passion for storytelling remains at an all-time high, thanks in part to the technological innovations she’s witnessed throughout her career. Stories that once took days to research now unfold in minutes. It’s Jennifer’s job to surface the power of Ancestry® for television programming, public relations campaigns, and media outlets.

On a personal note, Jennifer has had the pleasure of tracing her interests in publishing, reading, and music to not-so-distant relatives. And by learning more about the adversity some of her ancestors faced, Jennifer is able to draw strength and resolve to achieve her own goals. From battle-worn grandfathers to early colonial patriots, Jennifer’s family history embodies a bold sense of pride in forging ahead where others might give pause. This makes her the perfect choice to curate and distribute the most compelling Ancestry® narratives to empower personal discoveries and enrich lives.

For Jennifer, the most rewarding part of her work at Ancestry® is the emotional connections that develop when customers keep coming back to connect their own dots.

Jennifer Utley

Act as interim Chief Marketing Officer across tech, consumer, retail, CPG, digital, ecommerce /direct-to consumer businesses. Advise CEOs and management teams to develop brand and customer experience, drive growth marketing and build out teams for start-up to midsize companies.

Alison Worthington

Deborah Liu is the Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at Ancestry.

Liu joins Ancestry from Facebook where she most recently created and led Facebook's Marketplace product group. Prior to Facebook, Liu held leadership roles at [eBay](/org/ebay) and [PayPal](/org/paypal). Liu is actively involved in promoting diversity and women in technology and co-created the Women in Product nonprofit. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Intuit Inc.



Deborah Liu

Russ Hannig is Director, Global Lifecycle Marketing at Ancestry, a position he has held since August of 2017.

Prior to Ancestry, Russ was Global Marketing Director at Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.

Russ Hannig

Amit Sharma is Director of Marketing Analytics at Ancestry, a position he has held since July of 2019.

Prior to Ancestry, Amit was Director of Marketing Sciences at PHD.

Amit Sharma

Greg Packer has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) since May of 2021, where he is responsible for all legal functions of company, including mergers & acquisitions, corporate & securities, litigation, intellectual property, risk management and labor/employment. Prior to his most recent appointment, Greg served as [Ancestry](/org/ancestry)’s Vice President & Associate General Counsel. Greg has previously held other General Counsel positions over the past decade, including the General Counsel of Lonestar Resources US Inc., a publicly traded energy company, and Howard Energy Partners, a private-equity backed infrastructure company. Prior to his in-house legal career, Greg practiced corporate and securities law at Latham & Watkins LLP, where he represented public and private companies and private equity sponsors in a wide range of transactions, including company formation, private and public mergers and acquisitions, as well as accessing equity and debt markets through private and public offerings, including initial public offerings. Greg is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a Lowenstein Scholar. Prior to attending law school, Greg obtained both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in accounting from [Brigham Young University](/org/brigham-young-university), where he was a G. Roger Victor Scholar.

Greg Packer

Consultative Human Resources leader with deep experience in high tech, as well as broad experience in medical device and healthcare industries with public and private companies ranging from start-up to mature, industry-leader phase ($20MM - $4B in revenue).

Shane Koller

Dr. Park joins [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) after 16 years at Roche Pharmaceuticals, including international leadership roles in Roche and U.S. roles in [Genentech](/org/genentech) (a member of the Roche Group). While there, he served in a variety of strategic, lifecycle and commercial leadership roles, including as general manager of Roche in Denmark and Iceland. Most recently, Dr. Park was the co-leader of Roche Pharmaceutical's personalized healthcare center of excellence, a role in which he was instrumental in efforts to develop and accelerate Roche’s approach for utilizing genomics, real-world data and digital health to enhance Roche’s ability to develop and deliver medicines to patients with serious diseases.

A physician-business leader with a broad range of clinical and business experiences, Dr. Park, who received his medical degree from [Stanford University](/org/stanford), began his career as a physician at UCLA and, later, at [Kaiser Permanente](/org/kaiser-permanente). He has also worked in McKinsey and Company’s healthcare practice in Silicon Valley and served on the board of directors for Lif, the pharmaceutical association in Denmark, and the American Chamber of Commerce, Denmark, of which he served as chairperson.

Ronald Park

Howard Hochhauser joined [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) in 2009 as Chief Financial Officer and in February 2012 added the position of Chief Operating Officer. Howard also served as interim CEO of [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) from October 2017 to May 2018 while the Board conducted a comprehensive search for a permanent CEO.  During his tenure, Howard has helped lead the Company’s initial 2009 public offering, its go-private transaction in 2012, seven acquisitions and all of its public equity and debt financings. He was part of the team that helped grow the company from approximately $200 million in revenue in 2008, to more than $1 billion in revenue in 2017, a compound annual growth rate of over 21%.  Prior to joining [Ancestry](/org/ancestry), Howard served as Chief Financial Officer of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and earlier in his career was a Vice President of Equity Research at Bear Stearns & Co. and a Staff Accountant at KPMG Peat Marwick.  Howard has received numerous awards, including Best CEO of 2018 by the [Utah Technology Council](/org/utah-technology-council), #1 Internet industry CFO of 2012 by Institutional Investor magazine and CFO of the year in 2012 by Utah Business Magazine. He serves on the board of Silicon Slopes and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Envision Utah. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an M.B.A. from [Columbia University](/org/columbia-university) and a B.S. from [Boston University](/org/boston-university).

Howard Hochhauser

Ashlee Davis brings 15 years of diversity and civil rights experience to lead Ancestry’s global end-to-end Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) strategy. She believes every person’s story deserves to be found and shared, and is committed to cultivating a true sense of belonging for Ancestry’s global workforce and customers.

To deliver a product experience that truly serves everyone, Ashlee is dedicated to building a workforce that reflects our diverse global customer base. She heads policies and programs to foster an inclusive and equitable work environment where there are different voices and backgrounds at the table. In partnership with product and marketing leaders, Ashlee helps ensure our product experiences are inclusive so that everyone can easily discover, craft and connect around their family story."

Ashlee is a native of Nashville, TN, a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Howard University School of Law, an avid sports fan, and someone with wanderlust who is always planning her next adventure with her life partner. 

Ashlee Davis

Andrew Watson is Senior Director Global Marketing, CRM, and Marketing Operations at Ancestry, a position he has held since June of 2018.

Prior to Ancestry, Andrew was Director, Customer Experience Marketing and Operations at Vivint Smart Home.

Andrew Watson

Julie Miller joined [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) in August 2019 as senior vice president, Chief Communications Officer, responsible for leading strategic communications and promoting the overall reputation of [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) with authentic, transparent and engaging storytelling. Julie is an accomplished senior executive with extensive experience developing impactful and integrated communications strategies to drive growth. Passionate about leadership and developing world-class, highly motivated teams, Julie has a proven track delivering successful global communications programs to build brand equity and trust, increase consideration and amplify the business to internal and external audiences. Prior to joining [Ancestry](/org/ancestry), Julie served as vice president of Corporate Communications at [Intuit](/org/intuit), Inc. where she led communications for [Intuit](/org/intuit)’s corporate brand and flagship consumer brands, including TurboTax. Julie also deep expertise in reputation management, executive positioning, public affairs and financial communications. Before joining [Intuit](/org/intuit), Julie held multiple communications leadership roles in consumer, healthcare and high-tech in both corporate and agency environments including Anacomp, Inc. and Sharp Healthcare Systems. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of California, San Diego and an MBA from [San Diego State University](/org/san-diego-state-university) with an emphasis in Marketing.

Julie Miller

Brian Donnelly joined [Ancestry](/org/ancestry) in July 2021 as Senior Vice President and General Manager of [Ancestry](/org/ancestry)DNA with responsibility for leading the long-term vision, advancing scientific innovation, and operational team leadership. Prior to joining [Ancestry](/org/ancestry), Brian was an executive at Amazon serving as the Worldwide Leader of Diagnostics and Genomics. He has held a variety of global leadership roles at industry leading genomic and biotech companies. Prior to Amazon, Brian was the Chief Commercial Officer at [Codex DNA](/org/codex-dna) where he built the commercial organization, led commercialization of the world’s first automated synthetic gene printer, and helped prepare the company for its IPO. He joined [Codex DNA](/org/codex-dna) from [Illumina](/org/illumina), where he held multiple global leadership roles, most recently as Global Head of Customer Solutions + Experience with general management responsibility and leadership oversight for a 900-person team. Brian also served as the Global Head of Clinical Marketing, and created and led [Illumina](/org/illumina)’s Global Commercial Strategy team overseeing strategy development and execution for numerous genomic product launches. Prior to [Illumina](/org/illumina), Brian led Global Marketing and Commercial Operations at Sequenom - one of the first laboratories to use next generation DNA sequencing for patient testing - through its acquisition by [LabCorp](/org/labcorp). He has also held commercial and operational leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline and [Allergan](/org/allergan).

Brian serves on the Board of Directors at BreakBio, and is an investor and advisor to several startups. He received a BS in Business Administration and Marketing from [Elon University](/org/elon-university), received an MBA and JD from [Rutgers University](/org/rutgers-university), and completed an executive education program in strategy and leadership from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Brian Donnelly

Brian Hansen

Dynamic, convention-defying, award-winning marketing and communications professional with 20+ years of celebrated success advancing business goals. Integrated brand building experience across multiple markets, channels and categories including travel, technology, food and beverage, lifestyle, entertainment and consumer packaged goods. Strong media and communication professional skilled in Integrated Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Crisis Communications and Media Relations.

Lauren Danis

Todd travels the world in search of records that open up new discoveries for Ancestry® customers. The most exciting part of his job is when those records start shaking leaves on his own family tree.

Todd inherited his love of travel from his parents and it’s a passion that has served him well throughout his career. That’s because it takes a deep respect and personal understanding of local cultures to unlock certain records. The impact of that work is something that Todd shares with his wife and 3 children. In fact, it’s become a family tradition to spend holidays and summers “on the road,” visiting places like England and Germany where Todd and his family have uncovered deep family roots.

Todd draws inspiration from his ancestors’ life stories and seeks to inspire his own children through his work. Leading a transcription team of thousands across the globe, Todd takes pride in the jobs that are created and the work that lifts entire generations when his team’s efforts to publish new records are successful. 

Todd Godfrey

Public relations professional with over 10 years experience helping to implement and execute strategic communications, thought leadership and media relations programs in the consumer, consumer technology and enterprise technology sectors. Proven ability to manage a wide-range of public relations activities including strategic planning, media relations, product launches, reputation management and planning of key media and industry events. Effective leader and team player, who skillfully manages multiple tasks, meets deadlines and works well under pressure.

Gina Spatafore

Benjamin Newell is Global Director of Digital marketing at Ancestry, a position he has held since September of 2018.

Prior to Ancestry, Benjamin was Managing Director at dataxu.

Benjamin Newell

Sriram Thiagarajan

Mark stepped down as President & CEO at The New York Times Company in the summer of 2020 after an eight-year tenure in which the 170-year-old news brand was transformed into a digital powerhouse. Digital subscribers jumped to nearly 6 million, up from half a million when he joined, while digital revenues topped $450 million at the end of 2019.

Mark’s appointment at The New York Times Company followed an eight-year term as Director General of the BBC. He is widely credited with expanding the BBC’s digital reach and overseeing development of the BBC iPlayer. He joined the BBC from Channel 4 where he was Chief Executive from 2002 to 2004.

Before Channel 4 he held a series of senior posts at the BBC including Director of Television. His BBC career began as production trainee. He went on to edit several news programmes including The Nine O’clock News and Panorama before becoming Controller of BBC Two. He was educated at Stonyhurst College and Merton College Oxford.

Mark Thompson

Sachin Bavishi is a Managing Director in Blackstone’s Private Equity Group. Mr. Bavishi currently focuses on new investment opportunities in Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT). Since joining Blackstone in 2013, Mr. Bavishi has been involved in the execution of the firm’s investments in Ancestry, Bumble, Catalent, Ipreo, Kronos, Performance Food Group, Pinnacle Foods, Refinitiv, SESAC, Tradeweb, Trilliant Food & Nutrition, UKG (Ultimate Software / Kronos), and Vungle. He currently serves as a Director of Bumble, Refinitiv, SESAC, UKG, and Vungle.

Prior to joining Blackstone, Mr. Bavishi was an Associate at Olympus Partners where he evaluated and executed private equity investments across several industries. Prior to that, he worked in investment banking at Piper Jaffray in the Healthcare Group.

Mr. Bavishi earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated with Highest Distinction (Top 5%), and an MBA from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated as a Palmer Scholar.



Sachin Bavishi

Alex Moskowitz is a Senior Vice President in the Direct Investments Group in the Americas for GIC’s Private Equity and Infrastructure arm. Before joining GIC in 2008, Mr. Moskowitz was an associate at CIVC Partners, a middle-market private equity fund, and an analyst at William Blair & Company. He has board responsibilities for several GIC portfolio companies, including HUB International Limited, Kronos Incorporated, and Ancestry.com. Mr. Moskowitz received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in Economics, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.

Alex Moskowitz

Tim Sullivan has served as Chairman of the Ancestry Board of Directors since October 2017.  Previously, Sullivan served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ancestry, and as a director of the Predecessor from September 2005 to October 2017 and has been a member of the Operating Committee since January 2013. Prior to joining Ancestry, he was Chief Operating Officer and then President and CEO of Match.com from January 2001 to September 2004. From May 1999 to January 2001, Tim served as Vice President of E-commerce for Ticketmaster Online-Citysearch, Inc. From June 1991 to May 1999, he held multiple positions at The Walt Disney Company, including Vice President and Managing Director of Buena Vista Home Entertainment Asia Pacific from July 1997 to May 1999. From December 2005 to February 2008, Tim served as a director of Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. Tim holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and was a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Operating Committee believes that his qualifications to serve on the Operating Committee include extensive executive management experience, including experience as our own Chief Executive Officer as well as the former chief executive officer of a subscription-based Internet company.

Tim Sullivan

David N. Kestnbaum is a Senior Managing Director in the Private Equity Group. He currently focuses on investments in Business Services, Leisure & Entertainment, Media & Telecom, and Transportation & Logistics, amongst other sectors.

Since joining Blackstone in 2013, Mr. Kestnbaum has been involved in the execution of Blackstone’s current investments in Merlin Entertainments, SERVPRO, PSAV, Alight Solutions, SESAC, Tradesmen, and Outerstuff, as well as prior investments in AlliedBarton Security Services, AVINTIV, Cloverleaf Cold Storage, and DJO Global. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Kestnbaum was a Vice President of Vestar Capital Partners, and was previously a member of JP Morgan’s Financial Sponsor Group.

Mr. Kestnbaum holds a BA in Political Science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently a Director of SERVPRO, PSAV, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), Alight Solutions, SESAC, Tradesmen, and Outerstuff. He is currently representing Blackstone as a 2019-20 Partnership for New York City Rockefeller Fellow, and was previously a member of the Associates Council of Prep for Prep, a New York-based non-profit organization.

David N. Kestnbaum

Joseph Baratta is Global Head of Private Equity and a member of the firm's Management Committee. He also serves on many of the firm’s investment committees.

Mr. Baratta joined Blackstone in 1998 and in 2001 he moved to London to help establish Blackstone’s corporate private equity business in Europe. Since 2012, Mr. Baratta has served as the firm’s Global Head of Private Equity and is located in New York.

Mr. Baratta has served on the boards of many past Blackstone portfolio companies and currently serves as a member or observer on the boards of First Eagle Investment Management, Refinitiv, SESAC and Merlin Entertainments Group. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Georgetown University; is a trustee of the Tate Foundation; serves on the board of Year Up, an organization focused on youth employment; and serves on the Board of Trustees of Trinity School in New York City.

Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Baratta was with Tinicum Incorporated and McCown De Leeuw & Company. Mr. Baratta also worked at Morgan Stanley in its mergers and acquisitions department. Mr. Baratta graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University.

Ancestry

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