Semerdjian’s Experience Spans Direct-to-Consumer, Marketplace and Private Equity-Backed Platforms
Code Ninjas, a franchise that teaches coding to kids, has named Tyler Semerdjian chief marketing officer. He has more than 15 years of experience scaling businesses across direct-to-consumer, marketplace, sports and private equity-backed platforms.
“Code Ninjas has a genuine mission teaching kids to code in a way that’s fun and accessible, as well as a strong foundation with 350-plus locations across five international markets,” Semerdjian said. “The leadership team, especially CEO Navin Gurnaney, has a clear vision for where the brand is headed. This opportunity is the right combination of mission, scale and the chance to help build something meaningful.”
Semerdjian emphasized the growing importance of technology education and the brand’s role in preparing the next generation. “Technology is evolving faster than ever, and Code Ninjas puts children on the front edge of that. I’m excited about building the marketing infrastructure that helps our franchisees grow — the tools, data and playbooks that let our locations operate at a high level. When franchisees succeed, the whole system succeeds.”
Semerdjian said he thrives in fast-paced, multi-project environments, which have included marketing leadership roles with growth companies such as Family Quest Entertainment, backed by L2 Capital. As chief marketing officer for Family Quest, he helped generate more than $100 million in annual revenue while also leading marketing across four additional portfolio companies.
He said his background aligns naturally with franchising. “My favorite aspect of franchising is the impact at scale,” Semerdjian said. “When you get marketing right at the franchisor level, you’re helping individual owners build stronger businesses in their communities.”
As the co-founder of a consumer products company, Semerdjian also understands the realities of entrepreneurship firsthand. “I know what it feels like to put money into a campaign and have it not work — and I know the feeling when it does. That forces you to treat every dollar like it’s your own and stay hyper-analytical about what’s actually driving results.”
Gurnaney said Semerdjian is an exciting addition to the team because of his thoughtful, systems-driven approach to growth and track record of building successful marketing engines. “Just as importantly, he understands how to translate that into real impact at the local level, which will be key as we continue to support our franchisees and strengthen performance across the network,” Gurnaney said.
Smarter Marketing Decisions
Semerdjian said Code Ninjas’ continued investment in attribution to identify which marketing touchpoints contribute to conversion and revenue, customer relationship management and local playbooks drive smarter marketing decisions for franchisees. “The best franchise systems aren’t just handing owners creative assets and hoping for the best. They’re investing in attribution and CRM infrastructure that lets franchisees see what’s working at the local level and make informed decisions about where to invest. That shift from top-down mandates to data-driven enablement is where the industry is heading and where Code Ninjas is focused.”
In his free time, Semerdjian enjoys spending time on the beach with his wife, Lauren, and their two young children, Hudson and Navy, near their home in Encinitas, Calif.
About Code Ninjas
Founded in 2016, Code Ninjas offers kids ages 5-14 the opportunity to build video games while gaining skills in coding, robotics and AI. The coding franchise is backed by Eagle Merchant Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm.
