Megan Clarken, CEO of Criteo, discusses the evolution of the advertising market, from the advent of Google to the challenges posed by the demise of third-party cookies. Clarken emphasizes the strategic transformation of Criteo, focusing on the growth of its retail media platform and programmatic offerings.

Clarken traces her career from the startup phase of nineMSN to her current role as CEO of Criteo. She shares insights into her decision to join Criteo, highlighting the opportunity to build the business's retail media assets. The goal is to mitigate the decline of the legacy business and transition into a prominent retail media company.

Clarken addresses the global implications of Google's third-party cookie deprecation. She emphasizes the challenges for marketers in preparing for this change and the need for the industry to quickly adapt. Clarken highlights the importance of preserving the open internet and avoiding a scenario dominated by a few walled gardens.

Discussing the surge in retail media, Clarken underscores its appeal with margins above 70%. She predicts that retail media's advantage, especially in a logged-on environment, will be heightened after third-party cookie deprecation. The closed-loop nature of retail media offers measurement capabilities attractive to brands.

Looking ahead, Clarken anticipates challenges in the cookie deprecation landscape but believes most players will emerge successfully if they act swiftly. She foresees increased investment in retail media and connected TV, posing competition for search, social, and traditional platforms. Clarken sees consolidation opportunities, marking the ongoing evolution of the advertising market.