Locality, a leading data-powered platform for local video advertising, has appointed Michael Collins as its first Chief Executive Officer, signaling a new phase of growth as the company strengthens the connection between its streaming and broadcast businesses.
Collins brings more than 20 years of experience scaling advertising and marketing technology companies, and he will lead Locality in leveraging its technology, data, and media assets to maximize the value of local media for advertisers, partners, and media owners. He will be based in New York and report directly to Locality’s Board of Directors.
Experienced Leadership for a Data-Driven Platform
“Over the past three years, we’ve built the foundation for Locality to become the most precise, seamless, and data-driven platform for reaching local audiences,” said Mark Rosenthal, Executive Chairman. “Michael is the ideal choice to lead the next phase of our evolution, supercharging how we go to market with emerging technology, data innovation, and trusted relationships.”
Collins has led marketing and media technology companies from early-stage growth to enterprise scale. He previously served as CEO of Adwerx, a leader in advertising automation for SMBs, and held a long-term board role at Vistar Media, a programmatic out-of-home advertising pioneer acquired by T-Mobile in February 2025.
His leadership experience also includes:
- CEO of Marketron, managing $10B+ in annual TV and radio ad revenue.
- CEO of Adelphic, a Google Ventures-backed programmatic ad platform later acquired by Viant.
- Founder and head of Joule, a global digital media agency within WPP.
- Operating Partner and Executive-in-Residence for multiple private equity firms.
Building the Largest Platform for Local Video
Locality was formed in 2022 after One Equity Partners acquired Gamut Media and CoxReps from Cox Media Group. Since then, it has grown into a unified platform with inventory spanning more than 600 partners across all 210 DMAs. This gives brands unprecedented reach and targeting precision across both streaming and broadcast video.
Ann Hailer, President of Locality Broadcast, and Keith Kazerman, President of Locality Streaming, will continue in their current leadership roles, reporting to Collins. The leadership structure ensures continuity while bringing strategic alignment under Collins’ direction.
Collins on the Opportunity
“Locality has built the industry’s most advanced and unified platform for helping advertisers use streaming and broadcast video to reach local audiences,” Collins said. “Its combination of data, technology, and trusted media relationships is unmatched. I’m excited to partner with Ann, Keith, and the entire team to continue delivering value to advertisers, agencies, and station partners through the power of local media.”
The appointment comes at a critical time as local video advertising continues to shift toward data-driven strategies, with brands seeking integrated solutions that combine reach, precision, and measurable results. Under Collins, Locality is poised to solidify its position as the go-to platform for local audience engagement in an increasingly complex media ecosystem.
