Ben Gerst

Ben Gerst has over two decades of experience in the technology industry, with a strong focus on digital media and publishing.

Their most recent role was as the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Nota, a position they have held since January 2023.

Prior to this, Ben worked as the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Food52 from November 2021 to January 2023. In this role, they led technology teams in New York, NY, and Portland, OR, and partnered with various departments to drive platform improvements and integrate new systems. Their team supported e-commerce and brand publishing revenue growth, with a focus on content to commerce initiatives.

Before joining Food52, Ben served as the SVP/Chief Technology Officer at the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune from August 2018 to November 2021. Ben developed and executed the technology strategy for these publications, overseeing product, design, engineering, content management, dev ops, and QA. During their tenure, they led the launch of a new CMS, redesigned websites and mobile apps, and built a world-class technology organization.

From March 2016 to July 2018, Ben held the position of Chief Technology Officer at Tribune Publishing Company. In this role, they led the digital technology organization for several major publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Orlando Sentinel. Ben successfully rolled out a new CMS platform across all markets and designed and built new websites and mobile apps for each publication.

Prior to their involvement with Tribune Publishing, Ben worked at FOX Sports from June 2013 to March 2016, serving as the SVP of Platform Development. Ben led a team of over 100 professionals in various roles and successfully implemented platforms and services to support the company's mobile and video strategy. One of their notable accomplishments was the launch of FOX Sports GO, a TV Everywhere product with over 2 million downloads.

Earlier in their career, Ben held the position of Executive Director of Technology at The New York Times from June 2005 to June 2013. Ben built and led the Platform Technologies Department, overseeing a wide range of systems and platforms. Ben collaborated closely with editorial, design, and product development teams to develop project plans, technology roadmaps, and solution designs.

Ben's work experience also includes roles as a Senior Software Engineer at CMI Marketing from January 2004 to June 2005 and as a Senior Software Developer at Digital Island from April 1999 to September 2003.

Throughout their career, Ben Gerst has demonstrated strong leadership skills, successfully implementing new technologies, driving revenue growth, and building high-performing teams.

Ben Gerst earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. The specific start and end years of their education are unknown.