Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 06: Amazon’s James Dibbo will become Pinterest’s new CFO on October 26. He led finance for Amazon Ads, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. He arrives as Pinterest expects slower growth amid tough ad competition.
Pinterest is changing its finance chief at a demanding moment. The image-sharing platform expects slower revenue growth in the third quarter. It also faces a crowded digital advertising market. For a company in that position, the finance chief’s seat matters.
Into that setting steps James Dibbo, a senior Amazon finance executive. He becomes Pinterest’s new chief financial officer on October 26. Dibbo, 56, succeeds Julia Donnelly.
What he brings from Amazon
At Amazon, Dibbo led finance for several large businesses. These included Amazon Ads, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, among others. His role covered the finance function of those units.
That mix touches several themes close to Pinterest’s business. Amazon Ads works in digital advertising, the market Pinterest competes in. It also sits inside an e-commerce group, where shopping and advertising overlap. Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios sit in entertainment and consumer media. Dibbo’s background therefore spans both ads and entertainment.
The CEO’s case
Pinterest chief executive Bill Ready pointed to that breadth. He said Dibbo has managed complex global operations at scale. Ready also credited him with building strong teams. He added that Dibbo understands where shopping, advertising, technology and consumer experience meet. Ready’s comments framed the hire around experience rather than a specific mandate.
Donnelly’s exit
Donnelly joined Pinterest in 2023. In August, the company said she would leave on October 30. She is departing for a new role at a private, early-stage company. That company has not been named. Her announced exit falls four days after Dibbo’s start date.
A tougher ad market
The leadership change comes as Pinterest navigates slower expected growth. The company has forecast slower third-quarter revenue growth. That means revenue should still rise, but at a gentler pace.
Competition is intense. Larger rivals such as Meta’s Instagram and Facebook dominate the market. Smaller platforms must compete for the same advertising budgets.
Pinterest has not tied the hiring to its growth outlook. Still, the timing gives the finance role added weight. A CFO typically oversees financial management and planning. It also involves explaining results to investors. In a slower-growth phase, that work draws closer attention.
Market reaction
Pinterest shares were down about 1% in extended trading on Monday. Extended trading covers deals made after the regular session closes. The dip was modest and not clearly tied to the appointment.
What comes next
The appointment ends a transition Pinterest first flagged in August. Pinterest is not just swapping one finance chief for another. It is bringing in experience from Amazon’s advertising and entertainment finance teams. Pinterest has not detailed Dibbo’s priorities. The challenge ahead is balancing growth, competition and financial discipline.
