The Wharton School

Colgate University

Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at GSTV

Oak Proof

Founder, General Partner

Redwood Distilled

Partner and Advisor

SevenTrainVentures

Advisor

Ozadia Plant Science

GSTV

Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

Promoted to create and lead the NCM consumer brand group focused on marketing, brand story, and content development for theatrical and digital platforms. Managing a 45-member team and $5M annual budget. Reports to the President.

▪ Driving consumer brand strategy that was pivotal in returning NCM to record annual revenue and outperforming engagement goals by 41% in 2017, 97% in 2018, and 75% in 2019.

▪ Closed exclusive $30M deal with Disney—NCM’s first content partnership with a studio. This exclusive content, packaged as NOOVIE BACKLOT, gives audiences behind-the-scenes content from Disney, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and Pixar. This partnership is followed closely by the C-suite, Board of Directors, and Wall Street. 

▪ Secured $36M annual AT&T marketing collaboration that included AMC, Regal, and Cinemark circuit partners. Worked with technical and content teams across brands to launch industrywide “Ticket Twosdays” campaign.

▪ Marketing lead in the launch of digital consumer experiences, including a companion app, Noovie ARcade (+4M downloads).

▪ Awarded Top 100 Marketer 2020.

National CineMedia (NCM)

Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing and Creative | Head of NCM Brand Group

Promoted to lead B2B ad sales marketing, branding, creative services, and strategic partnerships while simultaneously establishing and developing a consumer marketing focus. Managed 60-member team, agency relationships, and $9M annual budget. Reported to the President.

▪ Blended all functions into a cohesive marketing and creative team that helped drive positive revenue growth from $426M to +$440M annual revenue in the midst of growing multiplatform competition.

▪ Led creation, production, and programming of NCM’s NOOVIE consumer pre-show (+750M viewers) and online entertainment brand. This brand platform includes engaging content, purpose-driven commerce, and interactive gaming. It continues to grow NCM’s national theater footprint, expand reach into younger audiences, and drive higher consumer engagement and brand awareness.

▪ Led corporate rebranding, including creation of “America’s Movie Network” tagline and a gaming component to drive employee adoption. Work increased brand awareness 200% and earned team a first-place ranking in the Ragan 2015 Employee Communications Awards rebranding category.

▪ Identified and secured content partnerships with ScoreStream and ScreenPrism, adding +$5M in new revenue.

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Creative

Recruited to turn around an underperforming, 20-member B2B ad sales marketing team for the largest cinema advertising network worldwide. Managed $10M annual budget. Reported to the EVP, Head of Sales.

▪ Transformed team from an order-taker mentality to a strategic focus on innovation that was key in +10% growth to $426.3M annual ad sales revenue over 2 years.

▪ First in this role to build collaborations with product and technical teams and expand integrations into digital and mobile platforms.

▪ Added +$25M in incremental revenue by creating and executing marketing and branded content campaigns:
-	Glade / Grammy Awards: established Glade as the exclusive launch partner for new FIRSTLOOK pre-show which featured artists like Idina Menzel, Vance Joy, and Echosmith.
-	Innovative $2M AEG Live content partnership to promote touring artists nationally and locally.

▪ Additional partnerships included Entertainment Weekly, Maker Studios, Twitter, Shazam, and the Oscars as well as the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals.

Senior Vice President, Ad Sales Marketing

Provided growth strategy, multiplatform marketing, and partnership development services for media and consumer brands.

Key Projects:

▪ eMusic: partnership strategy as part of a business transformation effort

▪ Funtank / Candystand.com: sponsorship development and revenue strategy for this online game developer that was acquired by Publishers Clearing House

▪ Disney / Hollywood Records: social media marketing and monetization strategy for artist roster

▪ Mattel: social game development and Facebook launch to promote new board game, Bezzerwizzer

rocket science industries

Founder, President

Recruited by EVP of Digital Ad Sales, Nada Stirratt, to lead the 60-member ad sales team for MTV Networks Music & Youth Group (MTV, VH1, CMT, and Logo). Promoted from Group Vice President to Senior Vice President in 1 year to create and lead a new digital integrated marketing division for the Music & Logo Group. Built and directed 12-member team; managed multimillion-dollar budgets. Reported to the EVP and CMO of Integrated Media, John Shea.

▪ Grew digital branded content business from concept to $25M+ annual revenue by developing, securing, and executing large-scale, multiplatform marketing and programming partnerships for internal and external media properties. Examples:

-	Rhapsody: Led digital marketing strategy and $15M budget for this Viacom-RealNetworks-Verizon joint venture.
-	Rock Band (McDonald’s, Energizer, Electronic Arts): Secured and led $1.5M in branded partnerships for this music video game platform owned by MTV and Harmonix.
-	Backchannel (Sonic): Closed and managed $1M sponsorship to drive launch of MTV’s first multiplatform social gaming experience.
-	SHOTGUN (Verizon): Leveraged relationships with on-air teams and $1M Verizon partnership to produce first-ever “mobile-only” branded series for the 2008 VMAs. Show was distributed across all MTV and Verizon platforms.
-	IRON MAN (Paramount): Converted the equity of shows like THE FABULOUS LIFE OF and MADE into an integrated, branded content marketing campaign ($750K budget) that promoted the theatrical release of IRON MAN.

▪ Delivered $95M revenue (50% YoY growth) in year 1 as Group Vice President of Ad Sales.

MTV Networks

Senior Vice President, Digital Integrated Marketing

Selected to join the Yahoo! Music team following the acquisition of LAUNCH Media, a digital pioneer in music content delivery. Identified, developed, and negotiated marketing and programming partnerships to drive revenue growth. Reported to the National Director of Sales.

▪ Pivotal role in establishing Yahoo! Music as the largest music video streaming site online with +350M streams monthly while leveraging music as a marketing platform for blue-chip brand partnerships. Grew audience 900%, revenue 400%, and video library 750%.

▪ First in the industry to sell video advertising online, creating a new market. Grew this business to $20M annual revenue.

▪ Led the market introduction of LAUNCHcast (precursor to Pandora), the freeware music player Yahoo! Music Jukebox, and an on-demand music service Yahoo! Music Unlimited.

▪ Developed relationship with PepsiCo to reimagine their existing PEPSI SMASH series and transition it from The WB to Yahoo! Music. Pitched against AOL and MTV to win this $11M, first-of-its-kind branded content deal that was renewed over the next 7 years. Artists included Rihanna, Shakira, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Coldplay, Christina Aguilera, and Alicia Keys.

▪ Heavily involved in development of $36M Nissan sponsorship for NISSAN LIVE SETS, creating a definitive online destination for live music. This was Yahoo!’s then-largest original content partnership. Artists included Fall Out Boy, Beck, Weezer, Foo Fighters, Rascal Flatts, LL Cool J, and Common.

Yahoo

Strategic Director, Music

Served as the label relations, partnership, cross-platform marketing, touring management, publishing, and merchandising arm for artists across genres. Also provided digital content strategy and development for music and tech companies. 

▪ Developed and secured partnerships for clients including Virgin Records, Musicvision (first music-focused advertising and content network), CMGi (search engine technology), VFlash, and Palm (PDA technology).

▪ Developed business plan and acquisition strategy for Doctor Dream Records, LLC, an independent record label. Served as President and Managing General Partner following its acquisition by a Mercury-PolyGram joint venture. Managed a $2M P&L, A&R, and marketing.

▪ Managed Atlantic recording artists The Atomic Fireballs and David Garza.

One of only a few MBAs hired within this creative environment. Managed business operations, marketing, and a $5M+ P&L for Capitol Studios. Promoted into a Chief of Staff role reporting to President and CEO Gary Gersh. Advanced into a marketing leadership and partnership role.

▪ Structured, negotiated, and closed artist partnerships with ESPN, NHL, Starbucks, Dr. Martens, and Sanrio.

▪ Grew revenue 75% and operating margins 50% for Capitol Studios by leading with a focus on new markets, opportunities for innovative marketing collaboration, and continuous operational improvement and efficiency.

▪ Primary marketing responsibility for the launch of top-selling albums for the Beatles, Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Frank Sinatra, Poison, and the Ultra-Lounge series.

Steve Ochs