Lou Ferrara
Ferrara said he took the job because it’s a larger role and focuses on personal finance — a passion of his since he started his career as a business reporter.
Ferrara, most recently AP’s vice president for content verticals, digital news products and social media, said Bankrate is at a turning point. Like many companies, it will be focused on social media, mobile, millennials and the sharing economy.
He added that Bankrate is rich with data and there is so much to be scoured that is going to inform the product.
At the AP, Ferrara’s teams launched automated writing software, virtual reality storytelling and new technologies related to user-generated content.
“I’m going to miss AP,” Ferrara said. “We pushed a lot of innovations…which is part of what led Bankrate to me. When you’re surrounded by people, some who are risking and losing their lives, how can you help but not feeling privileged to come to work everyday and work your hardest?”
Ferrara is an advisory board member of both The Poynter Institute and the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism. He received his undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
