Published September 3
The following email was shared with employees of The Trade Desk today.
Subject: Important TTD team and business focus updates
Today we have significantly changed the shape of TTD to make certain our people and resources are focused on our mission and vision. Our mission and vision remain unchanged.
Tomorrow, The Trade Desk will be smaller by about 15% of employee count globally. This was a difficult decision that we have not taken lightly. While this is a common practice in big tech, this has not been a common practice at TTD. We don’t expect it to become one.
In the next 15 mins, you will receive a follow up that tells you if you are affected directly by this restructuring.
Given we are a global company across many time zones, there is no one time to deliver this message that is convenient for everyone. And of course, there is no easy or good time for this sort of message.
Regarding those leaving TTD tomorrow (Sept 4)
For those leaving the company tomorrow, we have taken steps to give each of them transition packages. We’ve asked those departing the company to read the documents carefully and thoughtfully consider the options in their transition package. Those leaving the company will receive information at their personal email addresses and can chat with our people organization (HR) at any point. I encourage you to take some time to consider your choices. They are designed to make this time less difficult.
It is really important to me personally that we leave space for those departing this week to look back on their time and contribution with fondness and pride. We’re grateful for the contribution of those who worked at TTD, even if they’re not at the company going forward.
Regarding the company
 Our company is very healthy—our financials and business model are very good. We have approximately $1.5B of cash and no debt on our balance sheet. In the 10 years we’ve been a public company, our revenues have gone up dramatically. In 2016, the year of our IPO, we generated $202 million in revenue. Last year we surpassed $2.9 billion. We’ve grown remarkably every year as public company, even demonstrating modest growth the last quarter.
As I’ve said at every Palooza, we are a tech company whose greatest asset is its people. That is more true now than ever.
We want our teams to be organized into smaller pods and smaller scrums, but with greater focus.
Our aim is to position The Trade Desk team to move with greater agility, focus, ownership, and speed. Together, this effort will provide us the opportunity to reinvest in delivering even better outcomes for our clients and will usher in our next phase of growth.
Our vision and growth
We started this company with a very clear charter and a very clear focus—to be the platform for ad buyers that aligns its interest with the buyers. Today we’re an S&P 500 company with the biggest opportunities ahead we have ever had. We’ve made big bets over the years to be buy-side focused, to not own inventory, and be the most premium and objective platform pointed at the open internet. These bets set up this company for a long and bright future. Our partnerships in data, media, and retail put us in a stronger position to buy the market objectively. Recent headlines make it very clear that our focus on effectiveness in objective buying is more important than ever.
We’re positioning ourselves for growth.
We’ve captured ~1% of the TAM. We have so much more to do.
The Trade Desk is built on extraordinary and unique talent. All around the world we have a team that is deeply committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients and advancing our mission. Thank you to our team for that commitment.
We have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.
We are reinvesting in growth, in innovation, and in the future of the open internet.
Our best days are ahead.
- Jeff Green, CEO The Trade Desk
The Current is owned and operated by The Trade Desk Inc.