From Gucci kicks to global publishing growth—The Times of India’s Andy Kucserik breaks down AI, SEO, and why sticky sites still matter. Watch the full interview from AdMonsters Nashville Sell Side Summit.
When Andy Kucserick, Head of Global Partnerships and Operations at The Times of India, shows up rocking Gucci flame sneakers in Nashville, you know he’s going to bring some heat to an industry chat.
We caught up with him at AdMonsters Sell Side Summit to talk sneakers, SEO, and how one of the world’s most iconic media brands is tackling AI head-on.
Catch the full conversation with Andy in Nashville—sneakers, SEO, and all. 👇🏾
Gucci Fire Meets Global Strategy
Yes, the sneakers were fire—but so was Kucserik’s perspective.
“A little bit of Gucci fire,” I said. “A little Gucci flavor,” he added witha laugh.
That balance of style and substance is what he brings to his role: introducing a 180-year-old Indian media giant to audiences in the US and Canada who barely know the brand name.
SEO Is the Secret Weapon
Everyone in India knows The Times of India. In North America? Not so much.
Kucserik’s challenge is bridging that gap. The weapon of choice? SEO and brand authority. At dinner, someone even noticed The Times of India articles were everywhere in their search results. That kind of visibility is currency in an attention economy.
AI: Threat, Opportunity, or Both?
When I asked Kucserik about 2026 and beyond, his focus was clear. It’s all about AI and LLMs.
“It is a disruptive model and…who’s in the publisher’s corner other than the publisher?” he said. Instead of panicking, his team is experimenting. They’re using AI to build products that deepen engagement rather than erode it.
Websites Aren’t Dead, They Just Need Grip Tape
You’ve heard all of the doomsayers proclaiming “the web is dead.” But, Kucserik isn’t buying it.
“We’re producing content for websites,” he emphasized. The key is making them sticky—interactive elements, smart widgets, video, and content that keeps users coming back. That’s the connective tissue between legacy publishers and the digital future.
Social, Everywhere
For The Times of India, social everywhere isn’t just a buzzword. It’s part of how they think about distributing content beyond the homepage and meeting audiences where they already are. And, of course, pulling them back into stickier, owned experiences.
Ten Years of AdMonsters = Kucserik’s Countless Connections
For over a decade, Kucserik has been returning to AdMonsters events.
“The connections and partnerships that become friendships,” he said, are what make the community so valuable. It’s not just about panels and keynotes. It’s about relationships that outlast any single trend in ad tech.
From AI Disruption to Staying Power
Can publishers sit out the AI revolution? Not according to Kucserik.
“AI and large language models are both the biggest threat and the biggest opportunity publishers face right now,” he said. “It is a disruptive model and…who’s in the publisher’s corner other than the publisher?”
Sure, AI disruption is real. But it will take real connections with audiences to bring back trust, engagement and community.
And maybe a pair of Gucci flames might help too.