Ticketmaster Taps Former Amazon Leader as CTO in AI-Focused Shake-Up
Ticketmaster has appointed Jim Freeman as its chief technology officer, filling a role that had been empty since February. The company also named Rachel Smith as its first senior vice president of data science and machine learning, and Chuck Mortimore as senior vice president of product. The moves come as Ticketmaster seeks to counter longstanding bot attacks with greater use of AI.
Ticketmaster has filled its CTO vacancy with Jim Freeman, who arrives from Amazon. The position had been open since February, when London-based CTO Carlos Alvarez-Coch exited before a deposition in the U.S. antitrust case involving Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent.
The company also named Block veteran Rachel Smith as its first senior vice president of data science and machine learning. Chuck Mortimore, with product experience at Disney and Stripe, will lead product. Ticketmaster presents these hires as a response to years of bot attacks.
Ticketmaster’s AI-focused hires could affect concertgoers, artists, venues, and ticketing rivals. If AI improves bot detection, fans may face fairer access and fewer disruptions, though systems may still make errors or frustrate legitimate users. Greater data science emphasis may also raise privacy and transparency questions. Competitors may feel pressure to invest similarly. Regulators and antitrust observers may watch whether technology changes market conduct.