Kate Barney

Kate Barney serves as the Chief People Officer at Smartly, the leading AI-powered advertising technology company transforming ad experiences for brands and their consumers.

A seasoned global HR executive and serial start-up founder, Kate brings over 20 years of transformative leadership experience across the tech and media sectors, scaling organizations from early-stage startups to global industry leaders.

Before joining Smartly, Kate was a Global HR Leader at TikTok Bytedance, where she played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s Global Business Solutions workforce from 35 to 8,000 employees in just three years. She built an HR organization renowned for its deep business insight while fostering a culture of innovation, joy, and authenticity. Prior to TikTok, she held CPO roles at VC-backed startups across Shanghai, London, and New York, leading major M&A integrations, spearheading diversity initiatives, and developing world-class HR functions.

As Smartly’s CPO, Kate is focused on building a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative culture that fuels innovation and accelerates growth. Her ability to connect strategic vision with operational excellence makes her a driving force in shaping Smartly’s next phase of success.