OpenX Names Robert Horler Chief Executive Officer

The adtech company appoints a veteran media and advertising executive to lead its next phase of growth.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People

OpenX Names Robert Horler Chief Executive Officer

OpenX has appointed Robert Horler as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Joshua Metzger, who served as interim CEO and will return to his role as Chief Legal Officer. The company reported 15 consecutive quarters of year-over-year revenue growth.

Why it matters

The appointment comes as OpenX seeks to sustain its revenue growth streak and expand its identity and AI-enabled product offerings. Horler's background spans media, advertising, and adtech leadership roles.

OpenX has recorded 15 consecutive quarters of year-over-year revenue growth, and Horler previously held operational responsibility for organizations generating more than $1 billion in revenue. Details of any revenue targets under his leadership were not disclosed.

The players

Robert Horler

Robert Horler is an executive with three decades of experience across media, advertising, and adtech, including prior CEO roles at Dentsu Aegis Network and Whalar.

Joshua Metzger

Joshua Metzger served as OpenX's interim CEO before returning to lead the company's legal strategy as Chief Legal Officer.

OpenX

OpenX is an adtech company that offers OpenXBuild, an independent identity graph platform with cloud-native infrastructure and AI enablement.

The details

Horler founded, built, and sold Diffiniti, a search and performance marketing agency, and later served as CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network across the U.S. and Northern Europe. He also served as CEO and then Board Member at Whalar, which was acquired by Accenture earlier this year and grew from 40 to more than 300 employees during his tenure.

Accenture acquired Whalar earlier this year.
OpenX announced Horler's appointment as CEO on November 2, 2026.

Market Landscape

Horler's prior leadership at Whalar, which Accenture acquired earlier this year, reflects continued consolidation among agencies and marketing technology firms. His appointment places an executive with that background at the helm of an independent adtech company competing in the same broader market.

For advertisers and publishers working with OpenX, the leadership change may affect strategy and product direction as Horler begins his tenure. The company has not announced specific changes to its products or client terms in the extraction.

The takeaway

Leadership transitions at growth-stage adtech firms often signal shifts in priorities, so readers following the sector should watch for OpenX's next product and strategy announcements under Horler.