March 10, 2020
The Zebra’s C Suite Grows With Two Internal Promotions
The Zebra’s C Suite Grows With Two Internal Promotions
Jessica Scelzi Named Chief Commercial Officer and Martina Hahn Named Chief Product Officer
AUSTIN, Texas - March 10, 2020 - The Zebra, the nation's leading insurance comparison site, today announces the promotion of Jessica Scelzi to Chief Commercial Officer and Martina Hahn to Chief Product Officer.
“Jessica and Martina are admired leaders at The Zebra, so it was an obvious next step to bring their valuable insights and experience to the C Suite,” says Keith Melnick, CEO of The Zebra. “They’ve each been responsible for so much of our company’s growth and success and their plans for the future inspire all of us, including me.”
As Chief Commercial Officer, Scelzi is responsible for making The Zebra the leading distribution channel for insurance carriers. She’ll work with the executive team to drive company strategy and will continue to own defining and maintaining the company’s monetization strategy. She has been a proven thought-leader and voice of authority within the industry and will continue to represent The Zebra in that capacity as CCO.
“I’m honored to step into this role and am passionate about ensuring The Zebra remains the leader in our space and a great place to work. I’m committed to the people I work with, both clients and employees alike, and look forward to elevating my voice in this role as we continue to solve the unique challenges we face in this industry and the workplace,” says Scelzi. “Growing alongside The Zebra from fledgling startup phase to generating $37 million in revenue last year has been the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Scelzi joined The Zebra in 2016 and previously served as the Vice President of Commercialization. In her tenure, she has built direct relationships with more than 100 insurance advertisers and helped more than double the company’s revenue. Her vision gave The Zebra an opportunity to build scalable relationships with carriers. Scelzi was one of the architects of The Zebra’s employee-created parental leave policy which debuted in 2019 and is one of the most progressive in the country. Her promotion comes on the heels of her own maternity leave, following the birth of her daughter. In her new identity as an executive and mother, Scelzi is starting a community for working mothers in Austin this year. The group will join fellow working mothers in leadership positions to come together for support, dialogue and solutions to the unique challenges faced by women balancing the demands of motherhood and leadership responsibilities in the workplace.
Hahn’s responsibilities as Chief Product Officer will be focused on supporting the company in realizing its vision to support consumers navigating insurance needs through all phases of life as a trusted expert and personalized partner. Her role spans the creation of data-driven, groundbreaking products to serve consumer needs, creating the vision and strategy to drive impact. Hahn’s mission continues to be establishing The Zebra’s product as best in class.
“Growing up in a multicultural household and living in four countries throughout my lifetime has provided many lessons, most of all empathy. Empathy helps me remain open to new experiences and find value in learning and growth,” says Hahn. “My team and I are constantly looking for ways to relate to users and ease any friction they may experience. In our business, this understanding is critical, as insurance can be intimidating and overwhelming for so many.”
Having previously worked at KAYAK alongside The Zebra’s current CEO Keith Melnick, Hahn joined The Zebra in 2017 as Vice President of Product. She champions data-driven decision making, and the results support it. Hahn’s mobile product redesign optimized conversion rate by 70% and increased user engagement by 30%. She is the co-founder of The Zebra’s employee resource group Affinity, which serves minorities, people of color, immigrants and first generation Americans. Hahn is fluent in three languages: English, German and Mandarin.
Scelzi and Hahn join fellow C Suite leaders Meetesh Karia, Chief Technology Officer and Joshua Dziabiak, cofounder, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operations Officer, all reporting to The Zebra’s CEO Keith Melnick.
Martina Hahn (left), Jessica Scelzi (right)
About The Zebra
The Zebra is the nation's leading, independent insurance comparison site. With its dynamic, real-time quote comparison tool, drivers can identify insurance companies with the coverage, service level, and pricing to suit their unique needs. The Zebra compares more than 100 insurance companies and provides agent support and educational resources to ensure drivers 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."
Media Contact:
Nicole Beck
The Zebra
press@thezebra.com
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