Sam Napolitano
About Sam Napolitano
Sam Napolitano is the SVP, Head of Engineering, DTC at the NBA, with a background in multimedia and web design and extensive experience in engineering leadership roles.
SVP, Head of Engineering, DTC at NBA
Sam Napolitano serves as the Senior Vice President, Head of Engineering, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) at the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since joining the NBA in 2020, he has been instrumental in building globally distributed software engineering teams and focusing on creating next-generation experiences for the organization. His role involves overseeing engineering strategies that cater to direct-to-consumer services, enhancing user engagement across the NBA's digital platforms.
Former Chief Technology Officer at Pond5
Prior to his current role at the NBA, Sam Napolitano worked as the Chief Technology Officer at Pond5 from 2018 to 2020. During his tenure, he was responsible for leading the technological vision and execution of the company's strategy. His role included overseeing the development of scalable platforms and managing engineering teams to drive innovation in the digital content marketplace.
Senior Vice President of Engineering at Viacom
From 2016 to 2018, Sam Napolitano held the position of Senior Vice President of Engineering at Viacom. In this capacity, he led engineering efforts across various media assets, focusing on delivering robust and innovative technological solutions. His contributions supported Viacom's diverse portfolio of entertainment brands, ensuring the seamless functioning of their digital services.
Engineering Leadership Positions at The Huffington Post and AOL
Sam Napolitano has a rich history of engineering leadership roles at prominent organizations. At The Huffington Post, he progressed from Manager of Social Engineering in 2011 to Vice President of Engineering in 2016, with roles including Director of Engineering and VP of Engineering, Mobile. His time at AOL as a Senior Software Engineer for three months in 2011 further solidified his technical expertise and leadership skills.
Educational Background in Computer Science and Multimedia
Sam Napolitano's educational background spans computer science and multimedia disciplines. He studied Computer Science at Raritan Valley Community College from 2010 to 2014, providing a strong technical foundation. Additionally, he studied Multimedia & Web Design at Somerset County Technical Institute and The Art Institutes, enhancing his understanding of multimedia elements critical to web-based projects. His education underpins his comprehensive approach to engineering and digital content creation.