Gentry’s mentorship and leadership style were widely praised. Chris Gaglia, a former OpenX employee, recalled Gentry’s initial hesitance to hire him over concerns that Gaglia was a surfer, and Gentry was “worried about motivation.” However, the two bonded quickly and, “as it turned out, JG loved paddleboarding and spending time in Newport Beach—and once we connected, we never looked back,” Gaglia said.
“Every once in a while, you meet someone who leaves a lasting imprint on your life. JG was one of those people,” Gaglia said. “Although my time working with him was far too short, I’ll never forget our weekly one-on-ones—half nervous, half excited—because he was always direct, always expected outcomes, and yet somehow always sent you away sharper than when you walked in. He was a leader who challenged you, believed in you, and made you better. The industry lost a great one.”
Michael Todd, an executive at Silver Lake Partners who previously worked as chief technology officer and at OpenX, remembered Gentry as a thoughtful and caring presence. “John was instrumental in building OpenX into the independent, people-first ad tech company it became known for over the past decade,” Todd told ADWEEK. “He combined deep industry intuition with genuine care for those around him, and he pushed everyone to operate at a higher standard. I was fortunate to learn from him as a leader and to know him as a person.”
Tributes to Gentry flooded social media following the news of his death.
Jason Fairchild, cofounder and CEO of TV adtech firm tvScientific, in a post, called Gentry “an industry leader, a pioneer, a collaborator to many of us, and an incredible executive.” He also characterized Gentry as his “best friend,” “mentor,” and “biggest fan.”
Fairchild and Gentry worked together at software firm GoTo.com before Fairchild recruited Gentry to join OpenX. Under his oversight, Fairchild wrote, “OpenX re-transformed into a high-growth company driven by innovation and incredible execution.”
In a statement to ADWEEK, Fairchild added: “John was a force of nature. A force centered on doing the right thing. The right thing for the company and the right thing for the individual. The force was uncompromising and often pushed people out of their comfort zones, but it was grounded in empathy and care for the person.”
In their personal lives, Gentry and Fairchild were extremely close. “We spent countless hours together commuting, vacationing, and just hanging out, talking about work, life’s ups and downs, our goals, family, and whatever was going on,” Fairchild wrote in his post. “We raised our kids together, sharing Christmas mornings or teaming up against the kids for epic Call of Duty matches, only to get our asses kicked by 8-year-olds. We were in and out of each other’s chaotic daily lives for decades. He was the first friend I’d call with good news or to talk through a life challenge.”
Gentry’s selflessness and good nature were echoed by others who knew him and worked with him.
