TheZebra.com Welcomes Former Google Product Leader Daniel Herrington as Chief AI Officer

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AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 18, 2026--

TheZebra.com, the easiest way to compare and buy insurance, today announced the appointment of Daniel Herrington as Chief AI Officer. Herrington brings more than a decade of experience in AI product development to the leading insurtech company, having served in multiple senior roles at Google, Vroom, Capital One and Priceline.

In this role, Herrington leads the charge on how The Zebra uses the power of AI for developer experience, customer empowerment, and advisor enablement, as well as engagement with leading AI labs. His growing team is implementing and optimizing AI tooling systems across the entire company, improving engineering, product development, marketing, finance and legal functions. The technology is also being used to create new and innovative ways to help consumers find the best possible insurance and to equip The Zebra’s Agency with new tools to accurately match customers with their ideal insurance coverage. With the average annual auto insurance premium for Americans now $2,256, finding the right coverage and opportunities for savings is more important than ever.

“Daniel advised us for a few months, helping to sort through the AI hype to identify the real, exceptional opportunities we have to harness this technology. I am thrilled that he has joined us full time,” said Keith Melnick, CEO of The Zebra. “AI enables us to make the process of buying and managing insurance clearer, faster and more personalized for consumers, while also empowering our advisors with smarter tools to deliver better results. Daniel’s experience building sophisticated AI products at-scale, paired with a deep understanding of how technology should serve real people, is exactly aligned with our values and vision.”

Herrington’s deep and broad expertise in AI is demonstrated by his work leading Google’s CoreML team, where he helped build the infrastructure used to train and serve the Gemini models. In addition, Herrington has applied this expertise across multiple industries, including travel, banking and automotive. He now brings this experience to the insurance industry, advancing The Zebra’s vision to modernize and simplify the insurance shopping experience.

"I spent more than three years building the engine behind the AI revolution alongside a world-class team at Google,” said Herrington. “I see the insurance industry as the next great galaxy for AI application. It is a sector ripe for transformation, and I am incredibly excited to bring my experience to The Zebra to lead that charge."

For more information and to follow along for updates, visit www.thezebra.com.

About TheZebra.com: TheZebra.com is the trusted partner for American insurance customers. People turn to The Zebra for easy-to-use services and tools and friendly, licensed advisors to get the insurance they need in a way that works for them. This ongoing relationship goes beyond a single transaction. For over 10 years, The Zebra has helped people across the country by providing guidance and solutions for their insurance needs. In today’s digital world, The Zebra’s customer-centered approach offers people the choices they want and simplicity they need.

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CONTACT: Media Contact:

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Caliber Corporate Advisers

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KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AUTOMOTIVE GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY INSURANCE FINANCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

SOURCE: TheZebra.com

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PUB: 02/18/2026 09:00 AM/DISC: 02/18/2026 09:03 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218148873/en