The Zebra Adds Two Vice Presidents Amid Continued Growth

Amid continued growth, The Zebra bolsters leadership team, adding two new Vice Presidents to head Research and Insurance teams

AUSTIN, Texas - August 02, 2021 - The Zebra, the nation’s leading insurance comparison site, welcomes two new Vice President’s to the company’s leadership team. Maria Requesto Pantaleoni serves as Vice President of Research, and Marty Sansone joins as Vice President, Insurance. Both join The Zebra’s leadership team as external hires, adding expertise and proven success amid the company’s growth. 

“The Zebra is experiencing quick momentum, and as we continue to expand, Maria and Marty bring the seasoned experience we need to strengthen our position in the insurance comparison space,” says Keith Melnick, CEO, The Zebra. “Our bolstered team keeps us at the forefront of innovation and development, and I am proud to welcome and collaborate with new, eager leaders to take The Zebra to unprecedented heights.”

Maria Requesto Pantaleoni, Vice President of Research

Maria Requesto Pantaleoni is a customer-centric research and strategy leader with over 20 years of experience across global brands within the media entertainment, subscription services, and software design industries. She has led market, product and consumer insights research teams for companies like Netflix, DIRECTV and AT&T and previously served as the Experience Strategy and Insights Practice Lead at Projekt202 where she received the “2020 Game Changer” award. Passionate about building brands and products that create meaningful experiences and long-term value, Maria will lead the charge to integrate the consumer voice into the organization to further reinforce The Zebra’s customer-first strategy and experience.

“My entire career has been devoted to understanding the consumer and connecting the dots between their needs and the needs of the business. I’m excited to apply my research expertise not only to inform but also inspire The Zebra’s overall customer experience,” says Maria Requesto Pantaleoni, Vice President of Research. 

Marty Sansone, Vice President, Insurance

Marty Sansone brings over 15 years of insurance industry experience as Vice President, Insurance at The Zebra. Marty has held various leadership positions in operations, marketing, product management, and sales strategy at industry-leading insurance companies throughout his career. Before joining The Zebra, Marty served as Assistant Vice President of Distribution and Service at USAA. In his role, Marty developed new call-center technology for returning scheduled call-backs, which in turn lifted auto and homeowner conversion. Marty is an operations-minded executive that believes innovation is fostered best within a clear structure, process, and optimizing through analytics. His industry, carrier, operations, and product knowledge have proven essential to driving profitable agency growth.

"Creating an environment that puts people and customers first is critical to building a strong insurance agency operation. The Zebra has built that culture and empowers its people to challenge the status quo through innovation and continuous improvement to create the best experiences for our customers. Delivering those experiences through our talented insurance agents and building upon the incredible strides made thus far at The Zebra is truly an honor for me in my career,” says Marty Sansone, Vice President, Insurance. 

Maria and Marty join as The Zebra continues sustained growth after announcing a Series D fundraise in April totaling $150 million and valuing the company at more than $1 billion. Together, they will join The Zebra’s diverse and expanding leadership and executive team: Keith Melnick (Chief Executive Officer), Martina Hahn (Chief Product Officer), Meetesh Karia (Chief Technology and Chief Data Officer), Jessica Scelzi (Chief Commercial Officer), Ryan Hartman (Senior Vice President of Paid Marketing), Manijeh Noori (Senior Vice President of Engineering), Josh Waldrum (Senior Vice President of Organic Marketing), Jenn Erwin (Vice President of Operations), Nick Whitlock (Vice President of Product & Marketing Design), Justin Ewasko (Vice President of Engineering, Products), and Jason Kennedy (Vice President of Engineering, Platform).

About The Zebra

The Zebra is the nation’s leading, independent insurance comparison site. With its dynamic, real-time quote comparison tool, consumers can identify insurance companies with the coverage, service level, and pricing to suit their unique needs. The Zebra compares multiple insurance companies and provides agent support and educational resources to ensure consumers are equipped to make the most informed decisions about their home and auto insurance. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, The Zebra has sought to bring transparency and simplicity to insurance shopping since 2012 -- it’s “insurance in black and white.”