top of page
Chadd SJ Ciccarelli is an exceptional individual with a deep passion for entrepreneurship. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he grew up in a blue-collar, self-made family that instilled in him a strong work ethic from a young age. Chadd's passion for startups began early on, leading him to co-found a water gardening retail and wholesale business with a partner while still in high school. With a keen interest in product development, the venture turned out to be a great success, allowing him to sell the business after graduation and pay off his student loans. Chadd's dedication to entrepreneurship and hard work is truly inspiring, and his story is a testament to the power of persistence and a strong work ethic.
Chadd's academic accomplishments are truly remarkable. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with High Honours, College Honours, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Beta Kappa after completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Philosophy of Science. In addition to his outstanding academic achievements, Chadd also demonstrated his passion for philanthropy by establishing a scholarship fund to support future generations of students at the Dietrich College of Humanities & Science. Chadd's dedication to giving back to the community is admirable, and his commitment to supporting education is a testament to his character and values.
Chadd has been an essential part of the Amazon team since 2011, working across various departments and locations, including Los Angeles, London, Seattle, and now Sydney. He began his career at Amazon on the Adzinia team (now Amazon Ads) in Los Angeles, where he worked on some of the largest advertising campaigns for major brands like Nintendo, Activision, Electronic Arts, and Sony Electronics.
In 2012, Chadd moved to London and focused on advertising technology and connected devices for the A9 organization. He established significant mobile partnerships across Europe, working with notable brands such as American Express, Toyota, Warner Bros., P&G, Sonos, and Sony Music.
Chadd then moved to the newly-formed Amazon Clicks organization, where he built a brand new advertising sales team in Europe that focused on sponsored product adoption and utilization across sellers and vendors, generating over $200+ million dollars in advertising revenue.
In 2017, Chadd relocated to Seattle to lead the Direct-to-Consumer Brands team, where he worked with major mission driven brands such as Lady Gaga's Haus Beauty, Hope & Henry, and Oats Overnight. In 2019, he became the Head of Business Development and Expansion in Sydney, overseeing two consumer programs - Private Brands and Launchpad.
Chadd's diverse experience at Amazon highlights his ability to adapt and succeed in various roles and locations. His contributions to Amazon's advertising and consumer programs have been instrumental in the company's success, and his expertise in business development and expansion has helped numerous startups thrive through Amazon's Launchpad program.
Chadd's arrival in Sydney has been a game-changer for startups looking to grow and succeed. As the Head of Business Development in APAC, his team launched Launchped in Australia which has helped hundreds of startups access the resources and support they need to take their businesses to the next level. Chadd has been instrumental in creating initiatives for small and medium-sized businesses, such as the Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grants. These grants offer financial assistance to innovative organizations that support Australians through the pandemic, and they have played a crucial role in the creation of some of the world's most innovative startups. Since its launch in 2020, the program has helped businesses in various industries, including WAW Handplanes, Ethicool Books, Niki's Baby Wipes, Great Wrap, and Crockd, to name a few. Chadd's commitment to supporting startups and fostering innovation has made a significant impact on the business community, and his efforts have helped countless entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Additionally, under Chadd his team created Amazon’s Private Label program in Australia and worked on the creation of such brands as the Australian made Cuddly Bubs and the Further South Spirits collaboration with Matt Moran and Thankful4Farmers.
As of 2022, Chadd has taken on a new role as part of the AWS Innovation Advisory team. His primary responsibility is to leverage Amazon's culture of innovation and help some of the largest enterprises, including Qantas and Optus, transform their approach to designing, developing, launching new products, and pioneering the use of cloud services.
Chadd's extensive experience in e-commerce and cloud computing has made him a prominent leader in the global tech industry. He has helped numerous small and medium-sized businesses share their brand stories with Amazon's vast customer base of over 300 million people worldwide. Additionally, Chadd has assisted several enterprises in adopting Amazon's best practices to leverage AWS cloud services successfully.
In addition to his contributions to the tech industry, Chadd is also a well-known angel investor and the Co-founder of Blue Bear Head. He invests his own funds into a diverse range of startups, demonstrating his commitment to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs and serves on the Board of Directors for Nikki’s.
During his free time, Chadd focuses on improving his skills as a progressive guitar player. His passion for music is just one of the many facets of his diverse and impressive personality. Chadd's multifaceted talents, combined with his dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship, make him a true inspiration to aspiring business leaders around the world.
Here is My Background Below
Feel free to get in touch for business collaborations, media interviews, or advisory engagements. Happy to connect, share ideas, and explore new opportunities together.
For Media, Interviews, Conversations, and Entrepreneurial Endeavours, Click the Email Below
bottom of page