About me
Proven, strategically-minded leader with a track record of innovation and rapid value creation. Results-oriented trusted advisor to CEO, Board of Directors, investors and senior management team. Extensive experience assembling executive teams, streamlining processes and delivering sustainable financial results for corporations, private equity back companies and venture capital held businesses.
• Successful in managing businesses and leading transformations in companies ranging from $50MM - $500MM in revenue. Multi-industry operational experience -- media, retail, technology, healthcare, information services, and consumer products.
• Excel at building "business-changing" strategic partnerships with strong track record of success. Example: Formed partnership with Apple leading to The Associated Press being the first iPhone app for news (ahead of NYT, WSJ, etc.) and beta partner for push notifications.
• Highly regarded product innovator and credited with companies winning more than 25 coveted honors and awards for digital product breakthroughs and industry leadership.
• Speaker and keynote at industry events on big data, performance marketing, licensing, mobile, IoT, digital publishing, social media, and digital advertising. Recent coverage:
- "Three Ways Publishers Can Take Back the Power": bit.ly
- "It's the Dawn of Adaptive News": bit.ly
- "The Power of Digital Data": bit.ly
- "The Death of the Page View": bit.ly
- Tealium Conference - "Shift From Brands to Audiences": bit.ly
- "Data Governance: How Business Changes Everything": for.tn
Talent you might be interested in
Richard Kirshenbaum
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
NSG/SWAT
Tamara Ingram
Former Chairman
Wunderman Thompson
Bruno-Georges David
Président
Communication Sans Frontières
Joe Sciarrotta
USA CCO
Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago
Mark Lund
President McCann Worldgroup UK and Europe
McCann Worldgroup UK
Positions
Member of the Board of Directors
CredSpark
February 2016 - Present (8 years 9 months)
Innovative technology company focused on lead generation and improving engagement on Native articles via Native+ platform.
Interim Chief Operating Officer
Robb Report Media
August 2016 - January 2017 (5 months)
Hired by Board and Rockbridge Equity Partners to recommend strategic investment options.
Accepted interim management position to run day-to-day U.S. and International operations of 40 year old luxury media brand.
Oversaw 150% YOY digital sales growth while marginally growing print and events businesses.
Worked with Board on equity partnership with Penske Media Corporation (PMC) leading to a sale and co-investment.
Accepted interim management position to run day-to-day U.S. and International operations of 40 year old luxury media brand.
Oversaw 150% YOY digital sales growth while marginally growing print and events businesses.
Worked with Board on equity partnership with Penske Media Corporation (PMC) leading to a sale and co-investment.
Joined as outside director for AdWeek.
Managing Director
Xcel Advisors
February 2016 - January 2017 (11 months)
Providing consulting and advisory services to media companies, private equity firms, and Fortune 500 companies on digital transformation and digital revenue growth.
- Served as Interim COO of Robb Report for Rockbridge Equity Partners
- Served as CEO to ClearView Social -- a VC-backed SaaS social platform for professionals
- Advised Inverness Graham private equity firm on potential investments and acquisitions
- Served as outside board director for AdWeek working with Beringer Partners
- Served as Interim COO of Robb Report for Rockbridge Equity Partners
- Served as CEO to ClearView Social -- a VC-backed SaaS social platform for professionals
- Advised Inverness Graham private equity firm on potential investments and acquisitions
- Served as outside board director for AdWeek working with Beringer Partners
Conference Chair for Media & Technology Summit
FUSE Conference (by Publishing Executive)
January 2016 - September 2016 (8 months)
Provided executive leadership and guidance on content programming, sponsorships, and attendees.
Keynote: Jeffrey Litvack highlighted 10 media trends shaping the industry & outlined future publishing challenges at FUSE: The Convergence of Media & Technology.
http://www.pubexec.com/article/top-10-media-trends-publishers-cannot-ignore/
Keynote: Jeffrey Litvack highlighted 10 media trends shaping the industry & outlined future publishing challenges at FUSE: The Convergence of Media & Technology.
http://www.pubexec.com/article/top-10-media-trends-publishers-cannot-ignore/
Group President
ALM Media
July 2014 - February 2016 (1 year 7 months)
ALM is a private equity backed company covering the consulting, finance, insurance, legal, and real estate industries with more than 400 print and digital titles. As President I shape corporate, product and brand strategy for ALM's $150+MM digital and data/intelligence businesses and am an active participant in all board meetings.
Co-lead the successful sale of company from Apax Partners to Wasserstein & Co ($417MM valuation). Grew consulting intelligence business by 225% post acquisition. Launched cloud based data products, ecommerce solutions and subscription products. Built a high performance marketing, sales and solutions team for Intelligence business.
Co-lead the successful sale of company from Apax Partners to Wasserstein & Co ($417MM valuation). Grew consulting intelligence business by 225% post acquisition. Launched cloud based data products, ecommerce solutions and subscription products. Built a high performance marketing, sales and solutions team for Intelligence business.
Chief Digital Officer
ALM
September 2012 - February 2016 (3 years 5 months)
Responsible for transforming traditional b-to-b media company into a digital-first publisher. Oversee a technology and digital staff of 184 employees including development, design, ad ops, project management, product development, e-commerce, and big data team.
Recruited to executive team to drive turnaround and prepare company for sale. Doubled traffic to ALM publishing properties in past year. Grew eight-figure digital revenue by 25% and increased company EBITDA by 30% in one and half years, cumulating in a successful exit.
Recruited to executive team to drive turnaround and prepare company for sale. Doubled traffic to ALM publishing properties in past year. Grew eight-figure digital revenue by 25% and increased company EBITDA by 30% in one and half years, cumulating in a successful exit.
COO and General Manager, iCircular
The Associated Press
January 2011 - September 2012 (1 year 8 months)
Oversaw the AP Board sponsored launch, development, and roll-out of iCircular. Conceived concept and authored patent for creating a digital marketplace for Sunday preprints (a $6 billion print business). Lead sales and business development efforts including overseeing the integration into leading newspapers mobile apps (Daily News, SF Chronicle, LA Times, etc.) and partnerships with national retailers (Target, Walmart, jcpenney, etc.). Author of "Mobile Shopping the Future is in our Pockets".
Sold business to Wanderful Media prior to exit.
iCircular is an interactive HTML5 mobile and tablet ad solution that brings the traditional Sunday circular to the newly minted "mobile shopper" -- www.icircular.com.
Sold business to Wanderful Media prior to exit.
iCircular is an interactive HTML5 mobile and tablet ad solution that brings the traditional Sunday circular to the newly minted "mobile shopper" -- www.icircular.com.
GM, Global Products
The Associated Press
December 2009 - January 2011 (1 year 1 month)
Direct report to Chief Revenue Officer with $100 million P&L responsibility.
Oversaw AP’s digital, mobile, video (broadcast, digital, OTT), and print products. Responsible for sourcing, negotiating and executing strategic partnerships with technology, content, brand, and licensing organizations including, Apple, Visa, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, and LiveStream.
Introduced and managed a number of new revenue streams for AP including:
- Native advertising via AP Banner News
- Licensing and ad-supported live video streaming via AP Live (coverage of the Oscars, Emmys, and similar events on mobile devices and online)
- Ad sponsorships of AP WorldCup mobile and web apps
- Data licensing of API news feeds to financial organizations for big data purposes (e..g, hedge funds)
- OTT ad supported models with AP News widgets and apps
Oversaw AP’s digital, mobile, video (broadcast, digital, OTT), and print products. Responsible for sourcing, negotiating and executing strategic partnerships with technology, content, brand, and licensing organizations including, Apple, Visa, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, and LiveStream.
Introduced and managed a number of new revenue streams for AP including:
- Native advertising via AP Banner News
- Licensing and ad-supported live video streaming via AP Live (coverage of the Oscars, Emmys, and similar events on mobile devices and online)
- Ad sponsorships of AP WorldCup mobile and web apps
- Data licensing of API news feeds to financial organizations for big data purposes (e..g, hedge funds)
- OTT ad supported models with AP News widgets and apps
Member of Board of Directors
Verve Wireless
January 2007 - December 2010 (3 years 11 months)
Advisor to Verve's Board of Directors. Led strategic investment into Verve on behalf of the AP. Post investment attended all Verve Wireless Board meetings and provided strategic, financial, and operational advice to management team. Assisted with fundraising and business development including subsequent investment rounds.
General Manager, Mobile and Emerging Products; Head of Digital Advertising Sales
The Associated Press
April 2008 - December 2009 (1 year 8 months)
Launched and managed AP's mobile businesses including AP Mobile, AP Stylebook, AP Worldcup, and white-label business.
Responsible for Apple relationship that put us on-stage with Steve Jobs at the 2008 WWDC as the first news app for the iPhone.
Presided over 300% user growth and 10 fold revenue growth. Launched more than 30 award-winning products across multiple platforms (mobile, SmartTVs, Tablets, HTML5) and multiple business lines (sports, breaking news, books, and entertainment).
Built and managed AP's digital advertising sales team including being the recipient of the 2009 Service Excellence Awards from the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau).
Responsible for Apple relationship that put us on-stage with Steve Jobs at the 2008 WWDC as the first news app for the iPhone.
Presided over 300% user growth and 10 fold revenue growth. Launched more than 30 award-winning products across multiple platforms (mobile, SmartTVs, Tablets, HTML5) and multiple business lines (sports, breaking news, books, and entertainment).
Built and managed AP's digital advertising sales team including being the recipient of the 2009 Service Excellence Awards from the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau).
Global Director, Digital Sales
The Associated Press
May 2007 - April 2008 (11 months)
Managed $80 million licensing and syndication digital business for AP. Responsible for identifying and assessing new market and product opportunities for the AP worldwide.
Principal
SSI Advisors
May 2002 - May 2007 (5 years)
Ran a successful management and financial advisory services firm which provided strategic and financial planning expertise to C-level management and Board of Directors.
Executive Director, Digital Media
United States
January 2001 - May 2002 (1 year 4 months)
Head of Digital Media department, responsible for managing online projects and online video strategy.
Led business strategy and planning efforts. Sourced, negotiated and executed partnerships with technology companies specializing in digitization, rights management, storage, retrieval, and content delivery, including Microsoft, IBM, and Akamai.
Led business strategy and planning efforts. Sourced, negotiated and executed partnerships with technology companies specializing in digitization, rights management, storage, retrieval, and content delivery, including Microsoft, IBM, and Akamai.
SVP Business Development & Planning; General Counsel
Yack
January 1999 - December 2000 (1 year 11 months)
Formulated and led M &A activities. Led venture funded mezzanine financing round including negotiating valuations, term sheet and financial covenants. Negotiated private-label and co-branded distribution deals with top media companies
Senior Engagement Manager, Media & Telecom
Mitchell Madison Group (MMG)
October 1995 - December 1999 (4 years 2 months)
Strategic consulting company founded by ex-McKinsey partners. Served top tier media and technology clients including CBS, National Geographic, AirTouch (Verizon) Cellular, and IBM.
Consultant
Mars & Co
1990 - 1992 (2 years)
Strategy Consultant for Consumer Product Companies
Education
BS Economics - Entrepreneurship & Finance
1986 - 1990 (4 years)
Activities and Societies: Beta Gamma Sigma, President Wharton Management Club, Alfred Redding Scholarship Recipient
