Executives/Skift CEO
Rafat Ali, CEO of Skift

Who is the CEO of Skift in 2026?

Rafat Ali is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Skift. Rafat has held the CEO seat since 2012, and was previously Founder, Editor, Publisher at ContentNext Media, Inc.

Updated September 24, 2026
Time in seat
14 years
CEO since 2012
Career span
25 years
First recorded role January 2001
Founded
2011
Founder of Skift
Summary
  • Rafat Ali founded Skift in December 2011 and has been CEO since 2012.
  • Rafat Ali was Managing Editor at Silicon Alley Reporter, Venture Reporter from October 2001 to October 2002.
  • Rafat Ali sat on the boards of International Women's Media Foundation from August 2022 to September 2025, and of Media Development Investment Fund from September 2013 to December 2015.

Current company

Skift

Skift is a digital media company and travel website.

TravelHeadquartered in New York CityFounded 2012Private company

Source: Wikipedia

Career and education

Rafat Ali joined Skift in December 2011 and has been CEO since 2012. Before Skift, Rafat was Founder, Editor, Publisher at ContentNext Media, Inc from June 2002 until June 2010.

Career

  1. Skift2011, end not stated
    • CEO/Founder
  2. International Women's Media Foundation2022 to 2025
    • Board Member
  3. Media Development Investment Fund2013 to 2015
    • Board of Advisors
  4. Institute for Nonprofit News2013 to 2015
    • Board Member
  5. GigaOm2012 to 2015
    • Board of Advisors
  6. Asia Society2013 to 2014
    • Board of Advisors, Digital Media
  7. ContentNext Media, Inc2002 to 2010
    • Founder, Editor, Publisher
  8. Silicon Alley Reporter, Venture Reporter2001 to 2002
    • Managing Editor
  9. Inside.com2001
    • Digital Media Reporter

Sources: LinkedIn profile

Education

Aligarh Muslim University, Bachelor of Engineering (B.Tech), Computer EngineeringIndiana University Bloomington, Masters, JournalismSource

Decision makers by function

10 decision makers at Skift in Unify, vice president level and above. Choose a function to see who leads it.

Decision maker preview

Top decision makers at Skift

Vice president level and above, most senior first
Kate IrwinManaging Director EMEA · GBR@skift.com
Eliza ONeilManaging Director - Advisory · CAN@skift.com
Lisa Weier ParillaManaging Director, Growth Strategy · USA@skift.com
See every decision maker at Skift

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Leadership team at Skift

Rafat Ali leads a leadership team of 7 published executives.

Most senior 5 of 7

NameTitleIn seat since
Rafat AliFounder and CEO2012
Carolyn KreminsPresidentNot stated
Ahmet CanChief Financial OfficerNot stated
Jason ClampetChief Product OfficerNot stated
Anne DuffyChief of Staff & SVP of Strategic GrowthNot stated

Sources: Skift team page

Frequently asked questions

Who is the CEO of Skift?

Rafat Ali is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Skift. Rafat has held the CEO seat since 2012, and was previously Founder, Editor, Publisher at ContentNext Media, Inc.

When did Rafat Ali become CEO of Skift?

Rafat Ali has been CEO of Skift since 2012, according to LinkedIn profile.

What did Rafat Ali do before Skift?

Rafat Ali was Founder, Editor, Publisher at ContentNext Media, Inc from June 2002 until June 2010, according to LinkedIn profile.

How long has Rafat Ali been CEO of Skift?

Rafat Ali has been CEO of Skift for 14 years, since 2012.

Who else leads Skift?

Carolyn Kremins (President), Ahmet Can (Chief Financial Officer), Jason Clampet (Chief Product Officer), Anne Duffy (Chief of Staff & SVP of Strategic Growth), and 2 more. Source: Skift team page.

Reach Skift's decision makers

10 leaders at vice president level and above, with verified work emails and phone numbers in Unify.

Methodology

The seat holder is identified in Unify's professional profile dataset, then confirmed against the company's published leadership page, its SEC filings, and Wikipedia before publication. Career and education rows carry the public document they were taken from. Leadership team membership follows the company's own leadership page; in-seat dates come from filings where available and otherwise from the profile record. Company figures are read from the Unify headcount page for the same company and are profile coverage measures, never company-reported workforce totals. The employee preview lists vice president and senior vice president level profiles by department. No personal contact details are published.

Identity confirmed against Wikipedia, Skift. Last verified: September 24, 2026.