RAD Amplify Taps Veteran Sales Leader for Creator Economy Push

NEW YORK, NY – April 27, 2026 – RAD Amplify, an AI-powered audience intelligence and creator marketing company, has appointed digital advertising veteran Tom Costello as its new Director of Sales. The move signals an aggressive push to scale its enterprise business as the creator economy continues its explosive growth.

In his new role, Costello is tasked with leading revenue growth and deepening partnerships with the Fortune 1000 brands and global agencies that constitute RAD Amplify’s core client base. The appointment comes as the company aims to solidify its position in a rapidly evolving marketing landscape where AI-driven insights are becoming indispensable.

Costello joins RAD Amplify with over 15 years of experience forging relationships with major advertisers. His career includes senior commercial roles at tech and media giants such as Microsoft, Quantcast, and Verizon Media. Most recently, he served as Sales Director at Outside, where he led sales efforts across key verticals including Automotive, Retail, CPG, and Technology—sectors that are increasingly reliant on sophisticated creator marketing strategies.

A Strategic Play in a Booming Market

Costello’s appointment is more than a routine leadership change; it is a calculated strategic move to capitalize on the seismic shifts in digital marketing. The creator marketing industry is on a trajectory to become a half-trillion-dollar market by 2027, according to estimates from Goldman Sachs. As brands pour more of their budgets into this channel, the demand for platforms that can deliver measurable performance and clear ROI has skyrocketed.

RAD Amplify operates at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cultural trends, analyzing live social conversations to understand what drives consumer behavior in real time. The company’s proprietary technology identifies the creators who are shaping audience demand, allowing marketers to move from insight to activation with greater speed.

This is where Costello’s expertise becomes critical. Rick Song, CEO of RAD Amplify, highlighted Costello’s unique ability to connect complex technology with tangible business outcomes. “Tom brings a track record of driving growth by translating complex data solutions into value for brands,” Song stated. The two previously worked together at Microsoft Advertising, a history that gives Song confidence in his new sales director’s capacity to scale revenue. “From our time together at Microsoft Advertising, I was impressed with his ability to build deep client relationships and scale revenue. He’ll play an important role in expanding our business.”

Bridging AI Insight with Brand Value

While the market is crowded with creator platforms like CreatorIQ and Traackr, RAD Amplify differentiates itself by pairing its powerful AI engine with hands-on strategic services. This hybrid model aims to provide not just data, but a clear pathway to execution for large, complex organizations.

Costello’s role will be to evangelize this value proposition. His experience advising enterprise advertisers on audience strategy and performance marketing makes him well-suited to navigate the challenges brands face in the creator space. Marketers are no longer satisfied with vanity metrics; they demand data-driven creator selection, predictive analytics on campaign performance, and robust fraud detection—all areas where AI is making a significant impact.

“Creators are influencing what people buy in real time, but historically brands haven’t had a clear way to act on it,” Costello said in a statement. He pointed to RAD Amplify’s platform as the solution to this long-standing problem. “RAD provides a clear view into what’s driving demand and matches them to the right creators. I’m excited to help clients put that into practice.” His focus will be on demonstrating how the company’s intelligence layer can help brands launch more effective creator, content, and paid media programs at scale.

Powering a Larger AI Ecosystem

Costello’s hiring also illuminates the broader strategy of RAD Amplify’s parent company, RAD Intel. Positioned as an AI Marketing holding company, RAD Intel operates on a unique model built around a central AI engine that powers multiple operating businesses. The company has seen its valuation grow from $10 million to over $220 million in the last five years, a testament to its strategy of acquiring and integrating businesses onto its proprietary AI decision layer.

This ecosystem includes two primary arms: RAD Amplify, the managed services business for enterprise clients, and Lickly, a SaaS platform currently in beta that aims to bring the same powerful intelligence to mid-market companies. Costello’s success in scaling the enterprise segment with RAD Amplify will serve as a powerful proof point for the entire holding company’s model, reinforcing the value of its core technology.

Backed by institutional funds and selected by the Adobe Design Fund, RAD Intel is building a comprehensive portfolio designed to address different segments of the market. By strengthening the sales leadership at its flagship enterprise division, the company is fortifying its foundation and creating a halo effect that will benefit its emerging SaaS offering, demonstrating the versatility and power of its underlying AI.

The New Mandate for MarTech Leadership

The current MarTech landscape, which surpassed $670 billion in 2024, is characterized by a voracious appetite for AI-powered tools. CMOs are dedicating larger portions of their budgets to technology that can deliver personalization, efficiency, and performance at scale. In this environment, the role of sales leadership has evolved. It’s no longer enough to sell a product; leaders must be consultative partners who understand the intricate challenges of modern marketing.

The demand for high-end experts capable of evaluating and implementing complex MarTech strategies is at an all-time high. Costello’s background fits this new mandate perfectly, combining deep industry relationships with a nuanced understanding of how data can solve fundamental business problems. His appointment reflects a wider trend in the technology sector toward skills-based hiring, where proven ability to navigate complex, integrated solutions is paramount. As AI continues to reshape marketing, the leaders who can bridge the gap between technological potential and business reality will be the ones who drive the next wave of growth.