TLDR: Neil Dhanowa, Google’s former global head of Display & Video 360 (DV360), has resigned to join Microsoft, where he will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s artificial intelligence strategy within the advertising sector. This move underscores the increasing importance of AI in optimizing ad campaigns and personalizing user experiences.
In a significant strategic move within the digital advertising landscape, Neil Dhanowa, who served as the global head of Display & Video 360 (DV360) at Google, has departed the tech giant to join Microsoft. Dhanowa’s new mandate at Microsoft involves building and advancing the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy in advertising, a clear indication of the industry’s accelerating shift towards AI-driven solutions.
Dhanowa’s resignation from Google occurred in mid-August, with his departure publicly announced via a LinkedIn post on August 12, 2025. In his post, he expressed considerable enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to Microsoft’s AI advertising endeavors. Reflecting on his three-and-a-half-year tenure at Google, Dhanowa highlighted his instrumental role in reshaping the market positioning, value proposition, and internal operations of the DV360 business. He notably led the overall product strategy and direction for DV360, Google’s comprehensive platform for managing programmatic advertising campaigns, with a particular focus on connected TV, live sports, media strategies, and leveraging automation and Google AI to optimize campaign performance and workflows for advertisers.
His departure has been met with well wishes from former colleagues, including Christopher Eden, head of programmatic media at Google AUNZ, who commented on Dhanowa’s LinkedIn post, stating, “Absolute pleasure working with you. Best of luck in the next chapter and thanks for all you did to fly the flag for the DV360 business on a global level.” Dhanowa’s extensive career also includes prior stints at Verizon Media, Yahoo, BrightRoll, and IDG International Data, among others.
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This high-profile recruitment by Microsoft underscores a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence across the advertising sector. Microsoft is actively leveraging AI to enhance campaign performance, personalize user experiences, and streamline workflows for advertisers. The company has been integrating generative AI into its core products like Bing and Copilot, and its AI tools, such as Copilot in Microsoft Advertising Platform, are designed to assist with various aspects of campaign management, including asset generation, recommendations, and performance analysis. Dhanowa’s move is expected to significantly bolster Microsoft’s competitive stance in the rapidly evolving AI-powered advertising market.
