Jerry Kowal

Hi, I'm Jerry Kowal. Welcome to my profile!

Jerry Kowal's Bio:

Jerry Kowal's Experience:

• Director of Content at Netflix

  June 2012 - June 2013

  Led content acquisition for Netflix Canada and for a portion of the Netflix US TV business. Worked across all major studios, networks and content aggregators.

• Founder & CEO at GameDay

  June 2011 - June 2012

  GameDay was an Android-focused mobile game discovery channel geared toward women that enabled users to find, and rewarded them for playing, interesting new casual games. We had a successful exit shortly after launch.

• SVP & GM Digital, North America at Endemol

  September 2009 - June 2011

  Oversaw and served as general manager of the Digital Media group for the North American operations of the world's largest independent television production company. The role included strategy, business development, sales and corporate development for the company's digital media content platforms/technologies, including SVOD, TVOD, social, online, SMS, and interactive TV. I managed a team of 15 professionals based in Los Angeles, and interfaced extensively with senior management scattered in other Endemol territories across the globe. During my tenure our group developed and launched multiple successful online and mobile social games, including those based on our existing TV shows (e.g., Extreme Makeover: Home Edition), as well as original games (Kobe Academy, Bingo Glam, Us vs. Them). We also invested in multiple social game and mobile app developers whose vision aligned with ours. On the original digital content side, we launched several pioneering digital branded entertainment franchises, including Married on MySpace, Kobe Academy and MLB FanCave, and partnered with the world's leading ad agencies (e.g., OMD, Hill Holliday, Digitas) and brands (e.g., Kraft, Clorox, Disney). Under my leadership the Digital Media group developed content development and distribution partnerships with some of the most innovative technology companies in the world (including Facebook, Google, and Foursquare) and pivoted away from a licensing-focused business wholly reliant on our underlying television IP to a multi-platform digital content creator and distributor. We were able to deliver meaningful EBITDA for the company despite operating in a difficult, resource-constrained environment.

• Director of Business Development, North America at Endemol

  July 2008 - September 2009

  Drove digital business for the world's largest independent production company and creator of such worldwide sensations as "Deal or No Deal," "Big Brother," "Wipeout," and many others. Also responsible for strategic planning and corporate development, including identifying partnership and M&A candidates across the digital media landscape. Served as primary liaison between US team and London-based senior digital leadership, frequently advising on strategic initiatives with and championing emerging business opportunities to the Global Head of Digital. Primarily responsible for introducing the then-nascent business of social gaming to Endemol, resulting in a successful strategic pivot that drove significant growth in the business unit.

• Senior Manager at CBS Television Distribution

  January 2007 - July 2008

  Drove revenue and developed and structured new partnerships with local affiliates, content portals, and distribution platforms for the Interactive arm of CBS' syndication business. Developed new revenue opportunities for CBSTD's full portfolio of IP, including Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, among others.

• Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer at Schmoozeroo Inc.

  October 2004 - December 2006

  Privately held Web 2.0/new media incubator focused on developing and investing in startups in the consumer internet space. Launched HotFlation.com, a unique photo sharing and recommendation site that quantified users' evaluation of photos based on geography and location. Sold to a strategic buyer.

• MBA Intern at New England Patriots

  March 2004 - September 2004

  Worked closely with then-Chief Operating Officer Andy Wasynczuk on a variety of business development, marketing and operations management projects for both the New England Patriots and the Kraft family's other related business interests. Presented recommendations and strategic counsel to senior management & the Kraft family. I left when Andy left to teach at HBS.

• Associate at Ropes & Gray LLP

  September 1999 - March 2003

  Practice focused primarily on the representation of financial institutions, technology companies and private equity and venture capital funds in a variety of transactions, including early and late-stage private placements, buyouts, and initial and secondary public offerings. Also worked on multiple large credit facilities and related credit transactions. Represented Genuity Inc. in its $2B IPO in 2000, at the time the largest IPO in Massachusetts history. Also represented various startups and venture capital firms in financings that raised an aggregate of over $500M. Other representative clients included Putnam, MFS, Bain Capital, Harvard Management Co., Bessemer Venture Partners and Venrock Associates.

• Private Tutor at The Princeton Review

  January 1996 - March 2003

  Helping 'gamify' the SAT, LSAT and GMAT for test-takers around the country for over 7 years.

• Managing Director at The Knight Rayne Group LLC

  July 2013

  Privately held consultancy focused on advising and assisting various clients in the SVOD, gaming, mobile commerce, and digital video industries and across the TMT landscape with new business development, strategic planning, business affairs, product development, dealmaking, and content monetization.

• Co-Founder & Director at Kids Need Cures

  September 2011

  Kids Need Cures is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization I co-founded along with my wife initially to raise funds to support research initiatives geared toward solving the challenges of Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS), a rare genetic disorder of Chromosome 15 that presents severe, lifelong quality of life issues for those afflicted. We created the organization shortly after receiving our daughter Caitlin's diagnosis in July 2011. We have broadened our mission to include fighting other rare disorders children encounter, in addition to PWS. The company holds fundraisers, generates awareness for PWS and other rare disorders children face, and partners with fellow research-oriented organizations such as The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research to help accomplish its goals. We have raised over $100,000 to date to fund research into solving this terrible disorder and other rare disorders. For more information, please visit http://www.kidsneedcures.org/.

Jerry Kowal's Education:

• Stanford University Graduate School of Business

  MBA

• University of Michigan

  BBA
  Concentration: Finance & Economics

• University of Michigan Law School

  JD

Jerry Kowal's Interests & Activities: