# Jad Dunning

> Jad Dunning is a San Francisco Bay Area entrepreneur and Cricket Media’s chief operating officer. He co-founded CompareNet, StepUp Commerce and DriverSide, businesses acquired by Microsoft, Intuit and Advance Auto Parts respectively. His career later moved into children’s streaming through Sensical, alongside earlier education nonprofit board service.

- **Role:** Chief Operating Officer at Cricket Media
- **Organizations:** Cricket Media, Common Sense Networks, Common Sense Media, DriverSide, Advance Auto Parts, MOTOSHOP Technology Tools, StepUp Commerce, Intuit, CompareNet, Microsoft, SMART Program, Cathedral School for Boys
- **Education:** Undergraduate degree, St. Lawrence University, Juris Doctor, University of San Francisco School of Law
- **Known for:** Co-founded three venture-backed companies acquired by Microsoft, Intuit and Advance Auto Parts., Led the team that incubated Sensical inside Common Sense Media., Served in automotive software leadership after the DriverSide acquisition.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Co-founded CompareNet with Trevor Traina.
- **1999** — Microsoft acquired CompareNet on March 4.
- **2003–2010** — Served as trustee and board chair at Cathedral School for Boys.
- **2006** — StepUp Commerce, where Dunning was co-founder and president, was acquired by Intuit on August 29 for approximately $60 million.
- **2007** — Co-founded DriverSide with Trevor Traina and Adam Jackson.
- **2008** — Identified as DriverSide CEO in a July company announcement.
- **2008–2017** — Served as a board member and board chair of the SMART Program.
- **2009** — Led DriverSide as CEO during its consumer site redesign and participated in a SEMA industry panel.
- **2011** — Advance Auto Parts acquired DriverSide.
- **2015–2017** — Publicly identified as Advance vice president and MOTOSHOP general manager.
- **2020** — Led the incubation team behind Sensical before its separation into a standalone business; subsequently COO of Common Sense Networks.
- **2021** — Sensical opened its public preview on June 29.
- **2025** — Cricket Media acquired majority control of Sensical; Dunning’s professional profile subsequently lists Cricket Media.
- **2026** — Cricket Media identified Dunning as its COO and moderator for an April 30 video-in-curriculum webinar.

## Achievements

- Co-founded three venture-backed companies acquired by Microsoft, Intuit and Advance Auto Parts.
- Led the team that incubated Sensical inside Common Sense Media.
- Served in automotive software leadership after the DriverSide acquisition.
- Served on the boards of two San Francisco education organizations.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Cricket Media named Dunning, its chief operating officer, as moderator of an April 30 webinar on using video content in curriculum.
- **2025-05** — Dunning publicly welcomed the Sensical and Billboard family music partnership on LinkedIn.
- **2025-02** — Cricket Media acquired majority control of Sensical, the streaming service he helped incubate.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jad-dunning-43295

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jad-dunning
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22