HUSSLUP

Los Angeles, CA
Jan., 2023 to July 2024

Co-Founder/CTO AI-Driven Entertainment Industry Network and Jobs Platform
HUSSLUP was a start-up platform providing Networking, Job-Search, Production Staffing, Staffing Work-Flow, Communication, and Community features for Creative Professionals, Production Companies, and the Large Studios.
Partners included: Warner Discovery, NBC/Universal, AGBO, and others

WarnerMedia

Los Angeles, CA
Jan., 2014 to Nov 2022

SVP Digital Product, Platforms & Engineering and Head of Enterprise Architecture
Oversaw an organization of 500+ based in Burbank, New York, Atlanta, and London responsible for Digital Product Direction/Strategy, Roadmap, Architecture/Engineering in a highly modern, wildly innovative, scrappy, fast, consumer-focused, and award-winningly diverse culture and operation.

Tech Achievements

• Restructured/Simplified Consumer, B-to-B, and Enterprise Applications from 1,000+ separate systems and platforms down to less than 100, reducing cost, improving security, and dramatically improving inter-product data intelligence.
• Moved the company to the cloud, overseeing an enterprise-wide initiative
• Implemented AI technologies for Captioning, Piracy Management, Consumer Data Analysis, Early-Stage Content Generation
• Implemented Standardized, but Highly-Flexible, Modern Tech Stack and Toolset
• Completely Rearchitected Asset and Metadata Platforms

Responsibilities Included

Application Infrastructure & Operations: Strategy, Planning, and Operation for all aspects of Infrastructure and Operations across Warner Business Units. This includes establishment of support models, large-scale transition to the Public Cloud, Operations Budget Management, 3^rd-party platform and operations management, etc.

Asset Metadata & Media Supply Chain Platforms: Ongoing development and operation of platforms and services supporting Global Content Metadata and Asset Lifecycle across TV, OTT, Thetrical, Games for 1M+ Titles and 1B+ assets.

Bussiness-to-Business Platforms & Tools: Tools and services used by TV, OTT (HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, etc.), Theatrical, Games, Awards Bodies, etc. globally, providing secure access to pre-release Screeners, Marketing Assets, Scheduling, Orders, etc.

Consumer Digital Services: Strategy, Product, and Technology for a broad portfolio of Consumer Web, Mobile, 10-Foot (TV), and Brick-and-Mortar Digital Services

• DC Comics, DCUniverse OTT Platform
• EST (Movie/TV Digital Sales and Fulfillment) & OTT Integrations
• Harry Potter/Wizarding World Digital, Tours & Ticketing, and Ecommerce
• Brick and Mortar Flagship Store & Entertainment Technologies
• Ellen Digital
• TMZ Online & Tours
• Cartoon Network, Adult Swim
• Consumer Products Ecommerce Stores, Platforms & Integrations
• Product & Technoloigy Leadership for Several Consumer/IoT Products driven by WB
• Digital Extras Platforms & Integrations
• A wide range of others

Franchise & Location-Based Digital Experiences: Development and operation of a broad set of global Franchise-Based Consumer Experiences including Harry Potter Tours & Retail, DC Comics Experineces and Venues, etc. Direct management/development of Consumer Experiences, Infrastructure, Ticketing, Retail Technologies, Regulatory Compliance, etc.

Consumer Intelligence: Oversee strategies, platforms, and product direction for company-wide Consumer Intelligence/Data initiatives.

Advanced Narrative & Integrated Digital Content Development: Strategy, Product, and Technology for a platform supporting Neurotechnology, Consumer Feedback, Consumer Data, and UGC Content in creation of new Narrative & Live-Programming content for the HBOMax Platform.

Enterprise Architecture: Strategy, Planning, and Execution of Technology Transformation across All Aspects of Enterprise Architecture including Consumer, B2B, Business Technology, Media Supply Chain, Production Technologies, Productivity/Desktop, etc.. Including:

• Oversight of Company-Wide Cloud Transformation
• Establishment of Platform & Execution Standards across the Company
• Creation and Management of Global Architecture Working Groups
• Complete Rearchitecture of Digital Asset Management & Media Supply Chain Services
• Global Network Transformation
• Global Privacy Platform

Grindr
Mobile Dating

Los Angeles, CA
Sep., 2011 to Jan. 2014

Chief Technology Officer – Early Stage through Explosive Growth
Joined the founder in early stages and transformed the Architecture, Development & Product process, and Organization to support Explosive Growth, Platform Flexibility, Security, and Tiered Subscription Model.

MySpace & MySpace Music

Los Angeles, CA
March., 2009 to Aug. 2011

Chief Technology Officer
Responsible for all aspects of Technology, Tech Strategy, Architectural Direction, Budget, Organizational structure and Management for this top-20 web and mobile property of News Corp. Also integral to Product and Business Strategy. Have managed an organization of more than 1,000.

Key Achievements:

• Profoundly Improved Morale and Work Ethic in spite of overall corporate decline.
• Planned and Implemented Dramatic Reduction in Operating Costs, including 60% reduction in force, removal of unneeded hosting and tech operations costs, re-negotiating or replacing 3^rd-party services. All with the [counter-intuitive] effect of higher performance and productivity.
• Complete Re-Organization and Streamlining of Technology and Project Management.
• End-to-End Overhaul of Platform Architecture including embracing heterogeneous development stacks, open-source services, independent code-releases, and very rich 3^rd-party service integration.
• Dramatic Overall Improvement in Organization and Service Productivity and Performance
• Profoundly Improved Morale and Work Ethic in spite of overall corporate decline.

Venture Capital Technology Consulting for Israeli Companies

Los Angeles, CA
May., 2004 to March. 2009

Provided assessment, product-strategy direction, architecture and management direction to a series of Israeli tech start-ups by request of several large Israel-based VCs, including Star Capital, Gemini Partners, Jerusalem Venture Partners.

Yahoo Music/Launch Media

Los Angeles, CA
Aug., 2000 to April 2004

Chief Technology Officer, Head of Production & Technology
Responsible for all technology and product development for this internet music and application services company and Yahoo business unit.

• Define and develop consumer web site, syndication, and Application Services product strategy based on company revenue, usage, and expense goals
• Manage development of Marketing Materials, Audio and Video content, and Technology through staff of up to 100. Also manage Production & Technology P&L, technology platform direction, product development, technology partnerships, etc.
• Manage key music rights issues including representation of Yahoo! to the Copyright Office and work on establishment of relationships with record companies for music rights.

MTV Networks /Nickelodeon / Viacom

New York, NY
May, 1995 to July 2000

Chief Technology Officer (and several other roles prior)
Responsible for all aspects of technology and technology-driven business opportunities for MTVi Group, Viacom’s spin-off internet music initiative. Roles include:

• Initial and ongoing structuring of all facets of MTVi Group technology, including organization, budgets, expense projections, etc.
• Evaluation, due diligence, reorganization, and integration for mergers and acquisitions for MTVi and MTV Networks
• Development of new business and revenue opportunities in content and data syndication, content integration with 3^rd parties both online and on-air, etc.
• Development of integrated MTV on-air/online “convergence” programming
• Hiring and management of approximately 100, providing development, hosting, technical operations, project management, infrastructure support, and technology partnerships and business development

AT&T

New York, NY
Sept, 1991 to May 1995

Director of Content Software Development for AT&T’s Interactive Television Projects.

• Hired and managed department of 13 software and database developers for
  • Creation of content software for AT&T ITV trials
  • Development of system software to be delivered to partners
  • Development of production tools and media encoding software for use at AT&T and by partners
• Responsible for specification of platform functionality. Have worked closely with Bell Laboratories in designing the API and settop box architecture.

NBC News Middle East Bureau

Hertzliya, Israel
June., 1988 to June 1989

Software Development: Interactive Television Project.
News Video Editor: NBC Nightly News. Hired temporarily during the “Palestinian Uprising” in Israel’s occupied territories. Edited 30-second and 1-minute stories for the “Today Show,” viewed and logged incoming footage.

Famous Delicatessen

Philadelphia, PA
Jan., 1983 to June 1989

Short-order cook.
“Make a mean Corned Beef Special”.

September 1991

New York University New York, NY
Graduate Program in Interactive Telecommunications.

1985-1990

Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering.

1981-1985

Akiba Hebrew Academy Merion, PA