Michael Barrett
About Michael Barrett
Michael Barrett joined OUTFRONT Media’s Board of Directors on August 21, 2025; he is CEO and a director of Magnite, Inc., with three decades of leadership in digital advertising and adtech spanning Yahoo, Google, AdMeld, AOL, Fox Interactive Media, and Disney Online . Tenure at OUTFRONT began August 21, 2025; age and education were not disclosed in OUTFRONT filings or investor materials reviewed . Core credentials include scaling marketplaces, programmatic platform expertise, and publisher-demand integration, relevant to OUTFRONT’s digitization strategy .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnite, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer; Director | CEO since Mar 2017; Director since Mar 2017 | Leads largest independent sell-side platform in CTV/video/display; expertise scaling marketplaces |
| Millennial Media, Inc. | President & CEO; Director | Jan 2014–Oct 2015 | Mobile adtech leadership; board oversight |
| Yahoo! Inc. | EVP & Chief Revenue Officer | Jul 2012–Dec 2012 | Monetization leadership |
| Google Inc. | Director (post-AdMeld integration) | Jan 2012–Jul 2012 | Integration of AdMeld into Google |
| AdMeld Inc. | Chief Executive Officer | Nov 2008–Dec 2011 | SSP scaling and publisher yield optimization |
| AOL; Fox Interactive Media; Disney Online | Senior leadership roles | Various | Digital media operations and revenue strategy |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnite, Inc. | Director | Mar 2017–present | Active public company directorship |
| MediaMath | Director | Jan 2013–Apr 2020 | Adtech board experience |
| Millennial Media, Inc. | Director | Jan 2014–Oct 2015 | Mobile adtech board |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Barrett was appointed to the Nominating and Governance Committee effective August 21, 2025 .
- Independence status: Appointed as a non-employee director; the 8-K notes no related party transactions requiring Item 404(a) disclosure. Formal independence determinations for new directors are typically documented in the next proxy cycle .
- Attendance/engagement baseline: In 2024, the Board held 7 meetings; all then-serving directors attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings, and the Annual Meeting. Independent directors held 8 executive sessions, presided by the Lead Independent Director, indicating strong engagement cadence .
- Board leadership quality: Independent Chairman (Michael J. Dominguez) since Feb 2025; lead-independent construct and committee chairs provide robust oversight. Independence determinations follow NYSE standards with legal counsel consultation, a positive governance signal .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board retainer (cash) | $82,500 | Paid quarterly in advance to Outside Directors |
| Committee member retainer – Nominating & Governance | $10,000 | Paid quarterly in advance; Barrett assigned to this committee |
| Annual equity grant (RSUs) | $145,000 | Valued at grant date price; generally 1-year vest; Barrett’s 2025 grant subject to proration |
| Expense reimbursement | Actuals | Travel and lodging for meetings reimbursed |
Stock ownership guidelines: Non-employee directors must own ≥3x annual cash retainer within 3 years of joining; in 2024 all directors met guidelines via direct holdings and unvested RSUs as applicable (new 2025 appointees assessed in future proxy) .
Performance Compensation
- Director equity is time-based; no performance metrics (e.g., OIBDA/AFFO/TSR) apply to director RSUs. RSUs generally vest in one year with dividend equivalents converting to shares at vesting; no options disclosed for directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship to Barrett | Potential interlock/conflict | Disclosure status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnite, Inc. | CEO and Director | Adtech sell-side platform; potential strategic adjacency to OUTFRONT’s programmatic ambitions | Company disclosed no related party transactions under Item 404(a) at appointment |
| Netflix Advertising (context) | Not a Barrett role | Board peer Nicolle Pangis (Netflix VP, Advertising) also appointed Aug 2025; industry expertise on demand-side; no conflicts disclosed | Appointment press release; not Barrett-specific |
Related-party exposure: The 8-K explicitly states no transactions between Barrett and the Company requiring Item 404(a) disclosure at appointment—a favorable signal on conflicts .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Programmatic and marketplace scaling expertise (SSP/CTV/video/display), aligning with OUTFRONT’s digital transformation and modernization agenda .
- Cross-functional revenue leadership across major platforms (Yahoo, Google, AdMeld), with strategic insight into integrating OOH inventory within agency planning systems—a stated priority for the company’s digitization .
Equity Ownership
- Beneficial ownership for Barrett at OUTFRONT was not disclosed in the 2025 proxy (appointed post-filing); subsequent proxy statements should show share counts and RSUs outstanding. Director stock ownership guideline applies (≥3x retainer within three years) .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Appointment to Nominating & Governance Committee places Barrett in a key oversight role (director selection, governance policies, ESG reporting, related-party review), leveraging adtech experience to advise on OOH digitization without disclosed conflicts at entry . Independent leadership structure (separate CEO/Chair; executive sessions; majority independent board) supports rigorous oversight .
- Watch items: As CEO of Magnite, ongoing monitoring is prudent for any future commercial arrangements between OUTFRONT and Magnite or affiliates; currently, no Item 404 transactions disclosed. Independence determination for 2025 appointees will be formalized in the next proxy .
- Shareholder signals: Say-on-pay support remained strong in 2024 (approximately 90% approval), reflecting investor confidence in compensation governance—indirectly favorable for board credibility as compensation policies are overseen by independent directors .
RED FLAGS
- None disclosed at appointment: No related-party transactions; no loans; no pledging; and directors are subject to anti-hedging and stock ownership guidelines—positive alignment .
- Potential conflict vigilance: Dual role as Magnite CEO warrants ongoing disclosure and recusal practices if OUTFRONT considers adtech/data partnerships with Magnite; governance processes (related-person reviews by Nominating & Governance) mitigate risk .