1stDibs Names Bradford Shellhammer CEO as Rosenblatt Becomes Chair

1stDibs, the online marketplace for luxury furniture, art and design, is changing chief executive for the first time in 15 years. The company announced on November 5, 2026 that Bradford Shellhammer, its chief marketing and product officer, will become CEO on January 1, 2027. David Rosenblatt, who has run the business since 2011, will move to the role of executive chair.

What happened?

In a leadership announcement published on November 5, 2026, the Nasdaq-listed company said:

• Bradford Shellhammer will become chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2027.
• David Rosenblatt will step back from the CEO role and become executive chair on the same date.

The change keeps Rosenblatt involved at board level while handing day-to-day leadership to an executive who already runs the parts of the business customers see most.

Who is Bradford Shellhammer?

Shellhammer joined 1stDibs in 2025 as chief marketing officer and chief product officer, moving from Rent the Runway, where he held a combined product and marketing role. At 1stDibs he oversees the customer experience across the website and app, including product development and design, marketing, communications, editorial and brand, customer support and logistics, according to the company.

His background is in consumer ecommerce:

• He founded Fab.com, an online design retailer that won three Webby awards, and two other start-ups.
• He was chief product officer at Reverb, the online marketplace for music gear.
• He was vice president of buyer experience and eBay for Charity at eBay.
• He held senior roles at Backcountry.com, the outdoor gear retailer.

When he joined 1stDibs, Shellhammer said he had long been a fan of the company as a design lover. Rosenblatt said at the time that Shellhammer had a proven record of scaling marketplaces and retailers.

Who is David Rosenblatt?

Rosenblatt has been CEO of 1stDibs and a member of its board since November 2011, and also serves as chair. Before 1stDibs, he was chief executive of DoubleClick, the online advertising technology company, which he sold to Google in 2008. He then served as Google’s president of global display advertising until 2009. He has also sat on the boards of Twitter, IAC and Etsy.

What does 1stDibs sell?

1stDibs describes itself as a leading online marketplace for extraordinary design. It connects buyers with sellers and makers of vintage, antique and contemporary furniture, home décor, art, fine jewellery, watches and fashion. Many listings are one-of-a-kind or high-value pieces, which is why the company puts weight on trust.

Its “1stDibs Promise” includes a price-match guarantee, buyer protection and trusted global delivery. The company also runs its own editorial operation, including the weekly Introspective magazine, The Study blog and The 1stDibs 50, an annual list celebrating leading interior designers. These areas, from the shopping experience to brand and editorial content, already sit within Shellhammer’s current remit.

Why it matters

1stDibs sits in a niche of ecommerce, high-value design and collectibles, where trust, curation and a premium shopping experience matter more than speed or price. Naming a product-and-marketing leader as CEO suggests the company sees growth coming from improving how buyers discover and buy items online, rather than from a change in strategy.

The handover comes as the wider ecommerce industry adjusts to AI-driven shopping. Platforms from Shopify to Amazon are reshaping how products are found and sold, which puts pressure on specialist marketplaces to keep their experience distinctive.

What happens next?

Rosenblatt remains CEO until the end of 2026, so the handover will happen at the start of the new year. Investors will look to the company’s next results for any updated plans from Shellhammer on product, marketing and growth.