In Conversation with Damian Kim, VP, APAC

In February 2026, we welcomed Damian Kim to Pinterest Singapore as our VP of APAC. Today, Damian joins our Life at Pinterest team to share what excited him about leading at Pinterest, how our platform adds value for users, and the growth opportunity that presents itself in the Asia Pacific region. Learn more about why now’s the time to join us in APAC. 

To start, we’d love to know what drew you to Pinterest and how it’s different from previous companies you’ve worked for?

There are a few things that made Pinterest stand out. First, it’s a platform that has made a deliberate decision to focus on positivity and intentionality, and that is quite differentiated in the tech landscape right now. Second, it is a smaller organization which was appealing to me in the ability to have closer connectivity across the teams in the US and international regions. And the third was that, for Pinterest, APAC is still in an early growth phase - that’s the most exciting aspect. We see so much potential for the region and we’re ready to build more deeply here. 

No matter where they’re located, our platform is still a place for inspiration where people can find the things that interest them or that they’re passionate about. One of the biggest things that stood out to me was how users find value in Pinterest cross-borders. It is really encouraging that the core design and utility of the user experience resonates already with people in Asia and we’re only just at the beginning across most markets in the region!

For folks in the Asia-Pacific region who may not be as familiar with Pinterest, how would you describe what Pinterest is and the unique role it plays in people's lives compared to other platforms they might already know?

Large technology platforms often prioritize how much time is spent by their users per day. One of the most unique aspects about Pinterest is that we aren’t trying to keep our users scrolling in the app. We are focused on ensuring that our platform serves a purpose for users, one where they can find relevant content to pursue in the real world. 

Our new brand campaign captures this well - “The best thing you can do online is find a reason to go offline.” That messaging manifests internally at our company and drives many decisions made behind the scenes. We want to help our users find things that are interesting, inspirational, aligned with their passions, and that allow them to go do something with it – which is very distinct from others in the market. 

From a business perspective, my job is to look at the commercial opportunities we have in the region, and there’s a conscious trade off we’ve made as a company. The less time we have people on the platform makes it even more critical that we connect them with relevant products or services during the window of time they spend on Pinterest. As our CEO Bill Ready says, “We are proving that positivity for social media isn't just a good thing to do, it is a good business model too.” 

What does Pinterest's presence in APAC look like today? What markets are you focused on, and what excites you most about the growth opportunity in the region?

While Pinterest is not a new company, we’re in our early innings in APAC. We’re building out our footprint in Singapore, our Asia Pacific headquarters. Outside of Singapore, we have two major markets we’re present in, Australia and Japan, where we have full teams and offices. Beyond that, there are many markets in the region that present opportunities for Pinterest, and we’re thoughtful in how we want to approach that development.

As someone who has worked in tech for the past two decades, the best time to be a part of a company is during the build phase when you’re working together to problem solve, open and expand in new places, and grow the team. Here in APAC, we’re very much in a growth and build mode. 

What's surprised you most about the company or its culture since joining?

One thing that surprised me is the focus on being a positive place for the people who use our platform. This is a real anchor internally, which has manifested in our culture. It’s a big differentiator for us, and that’s why people choose to work here. Being around people who are incredibly smart, kind, caring and who have shared positive values does make the work more enjoyable. 

The second thing is that the foundation of our business is very much in the US. We have a huge opportunity internationally, especially in the APAC region. There’s more that we need to do as a team here to help provide clarity and understanding about this opportunity and how we drive results in our region. That’s what was interesting to me and a large driver for why I joined. The real curiosity, the genuine excitement, the focus and the willingness to invest is present, and we’re looking forward to leading the way. 

What does it feel like to be part of a global company while being based in Singapore? How does the APAC team stay connected to Pinterest's broader mission while also carving out its own chapter of the story?

As a team, our goal is to be the bridge and connective tissue between our region and the rest of the company. We can’t make the assumption that everyone has the same regional context; what’s clear to us may not be clear to folks who aren’t located here. There’s curiosity and interest, and we need to translate that into meaningful conviction. 

One of the benefits of being a part of a global team is the knowledge sharing and continuous learning. There’s work happening in Europe’s CPG verticals, where we have less depth so we can connect the dots, learn from those teams, and apply it to our region. We were welcomed into their meetings to get exposure and were able to collaborate internally. We also had someone from our US team spend five days in Japan recently. They immersed themselves in our teams to host open discussions and share their learnings about working with external partners. These are the types of experiences that are interesting and utilize the strength and expertise of one market and help us apply it to others. It’s one of the best examples of how we take advantage of being a truly global company. 

For someone considering a role at Pinterest, what would you tell them makes working here different? 

What’s unique about the opportunity is that we’re building the region, and there’s a lot of agency and ability to help shape that. Whether it’s expertise or energy, every new person that comes in is adding something for what is going to contribute to a much larger business. If you want to come in early, have an outsized impact and leverage what you can do as an individual - well, that time is right now. We have big ambitions in APAC, and you have the ability to help us to set the direction, strategy and culture. The way we do that is together, with our people. You don’t have that opportunity everywhere, and we are in that unique window right now. If you want to be a part of that, then jump in and let’s get to work. 

Inspired by what's happening at Pinterest APAC? Explore opportunities to join the team.