Michael Akkerman Appointed CEO of Similarweb

Michael Akkerman takes the helm at Similarweb

Similarweb has appointed Michael Akkerman as Chief Executive Officer, effective November 2, 2026, marking a leadership transition for the digital intelligence company as artificial intelligence reshapes how businesses analyse markets and understand online behaviour.

Michael succeeds Similarweb founder Or Offer, who is stepping down after nearly two decades leading the company. Or will remain involved during a transition period to support continuity for customers, partners and employees.

Michael brings nearly 20 years of senior leadership experience across digital advertising, data and technology businesses. His background spans commercial strategy, product development, partnerships and go-to-market operations, positioning him to lead Similarweb through its next phase of growth.

The appointment also represents a personal milestone for Michael. Having started his career in search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM), he previously used Similarweb as a customer, relying on its digital intelligence to understand keywords, rankings and competitors.

Now leading the company, he sees an opportunity to build on its data capabilities as AI changes how people discover information, explore products and interact with the digital world.

From Similarweb customer to CEO

Michael's connection to Similarweb dates back to his early career in digital marketing, when search performance and competitive intelligence were central to understanding online markets.

In his announcement, he described the move as a full-circle moment, recalling how he once relied on Similarweb's insights to gain an edge in his work.

That perspective brings a customer-oriented dimension to his new role. Businesses increasingly need more than historical performance metrics. They want timely intelligence to determine where to invest, which markets to enter, how competitors are moving and where new opportunities are emerging.

Michael believes AI is accelerating this shift, making rich behavioural data an increasingly important resource for organisations navigating digital markets.

His challenge will be to build on Similarweb's established position in digital intelligence while helping customers translate data into practical decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

Leadership experience across data and technology

Before joining Similarweb as CEO, Michael served as Chief Business Officer at Digital Turbine, where he led global teams across sales, partnerships, marketing, product and business operations.

Previously, he was Chief Revenue Officer at data.ai, formerly known as App Annie. There, he led go-to-market functions spanning sales, marketing, business development and corporate strategy for a platform focused on app and market intelligence.

His earlier career includes serving as Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Cardlytics, where he led product alongside engineering. He also held senior commercial leadership roles at Uber and Pinterest, following global sales and strategy positions at Kenshoo, now known as Skai.

Across these organisations, Michael's experience has covered digital advertising, mobile applications, data-driven products and commercial growth. The breadth of these roles reflects a career spent working at the intersection of technology, customer behaviour and business strategy.

He holds a degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and will lead Similarweb from its New York office.

AI puts digital intelligence at a strategic inflection point

Artificial intelligence is changing how consumers search for information, discover products and make decisions. For businesses, these developments create new questions about digital visibility, customer journeys and the competitive landscape.

Michael sees Similarweb's data as a key asset in this transition. The company's platform provides web and app intelligence that helps organisations assess digital markets, track competitors, understand audience behaviour and identify growth opportunities.

As AI-powered experiences become more prominent, businesses are also looking for ways to understand how audiences interact with emerging platforms and how those interactions may influence purchasing and discovery.

Michael's stated ambition is to help customers move beyond understanding what has already happened towards making better decisions about what to do next.

That means connecting digital intelligence with the choices businesses face every day, from allocating marketing budgets and evaluating competitors to identifying promising markets and investment opportunities.

For Similarweb, the opportunity lies in making its data increasingly useful within customers' strategic and operational workflows as digital behaviour evolves.

Building on Or Offer's foundation

Michael takes over from Or Offer, who founded Similarweb in 2007 and led its development into a global digital intelligence business.

During nearly two decades at the helm, Or helped establish the company's position in web and app analytics, providing businesses with insights into online activity and competitive performance.

Similarweb's board described Michael as a leader with the data fluency, operational discipline and strategic experience required for the company's next phase. The appointment followed a formal executive search process.

Or has expressed confidence in Michael's ability to lead the business forward and will support the transition alongside the board.

The leadership change comes as Similarweb continues to focus on scaling its AI-powered data products and accelerating go-to-market execution across existing and new markets. The company has stated that the appointment does not change its strategy, operations or financial outlook.

Turning digital data into better business decisions

Michael's appointment places a commercially experienced technology executive at the head of a company operating in a market increasingly shaped by AI, digital competition and changing consumer behaviour.

His experience across data.ai, Digital Turbine, Cardlytics, Uber and Pinterest brings a combination of product, commercial and operating leadership to the role.

But his history as a Similarweb customer may be just as relevant to his approach: understanding how digital intelligence can give businesses a clearer view of their markets and a stronger basis for action.

As AI continues to change how people navigate the internet and engage with brands, Michael's focus will be on building on Similarweb's existing strengths and helping customers make faster, more informed decisions.

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About Similarweb

Similarweb is a digital data and analytics company that provides web and app intelligence to businesses worldwide. Its platform helps organisations understand online behaviour, analyse competitors, evaluate market opportunities and inform decisions across marketing, sales, investment and business strategy.

Source: Similarweb Names Michael Akkerman