Matt Fischer

• Dynamic, results-oriented digital strategy executive and general manager with 15 years of diverse leadership experience, encompassing:

- Business turnaround
- Business development
- Product development
- Program management
- Online marketing
- Website traffic-building
- Product launches
- Content development
- Customer education and support
- Digital and physical supply chain

• Proven track record for leading profitable business growth, managing costs, and launching marketing and operations programs.

• Detailed consumer web experience integrating strategy and operations, marketing, IT, product development, customer service, financial analysis, editorial, and B2B and B2C business models.

• Outstanding communicator and motivator with exceptional writing, presentation, project management, strategic planning, and mentoring skills.

Matt Fischer’s Specialties:

Digital strategy development; online business and product development; online business models, including subscription, transactional and ad-supported programs; search engine optimization (SEO); search engine marketing (SEM); local SEO and SEM; word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing; online video content; online split-messaging; optical media duplication and replication; physical and digital supply chain services; sales and informational presentation development; large group presentations

Matt Fischer’s Experience

Director/General Manager of Digital and On-Demand Solutions

arvato digital services (formerly Sonopress)

(Privately Held; Media Production industry)

October 2006 — Present (2 years 10 months)

• Head an 11-person division of Bertelsmann AG, providing enterprise customers with customized digital and on-demand physical supply-chain solutions.

• Increased sales, reduced variable unit costs, restructured operations and optimized product mix to turn business around and maximize long-term revenue and profit growth potential.

• Supervise digital archiving and catalog management, digital distribution, on-demand media production, and fulfillment services for digital audio, video and software content catalogs.

• Established new value-added services, including digital watermarking and variable content mastering.

• Selected by CEO as sole participant in Bertlesmann’s “Growth Through Innovation” training program, facilitating B2C and B2B enterprise innovation.
Executive Director

AOL LLC

(Public Company; TWX; Internet industry)

October 1998 — October 2006 (8 years 1 month)

• Promoted seven times, holding Director- and Executive Director-level roles in Corporate Product Marketing, Editorial Operations, Creative Revenue Solutions, Member Experience, Help & Member Education, and Local Product Development.

• Spearheaded Corporate Product and Launch Strategy team analyzing corporate product strategies, preparing and executing launch plans, and initiating corrective actions.

• Performed comprehensive assessment of product development pipeline for CEO and CFO.

• Initiated and led monthly reporting programs and product strategy forums on competitor product strategies and launches.

• Directed Help and Member Education Solutions group to develop cost-effective improvements for subscriber help and customer support.

• Led product managers and technical writers in development of world-class documentation and training tools to AOL members.

• Developed first-ever member feedback strategy that increased customer satisfaction by 13%.

• Expanded varied online advertising/marketing revenue from $4 million to $13 million in revenue within 12 months.

• Facilitated development of new original editorial programming on AOL, web, and mobile platforms (WAP, SMS).

• Led development of local sites, products, and services including information architecture, platforms for newsletters, and user reviews.

• Devised programs that drove 1+ million mobile-terminated text messages.

• Hired 13 staff editors and 10 contractors to develop and launch local guide product for 56 markets and a Destination Guide.
Website Coordinator

Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (USA)

(Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Internet industry)

September 1997 — October 1998 (1 year 2 months)

Developed, designed and produced consumer website of U.S.'s second-largest church-based healthcare/pension benefits provider. Performed full site redesign, including new original online content and interactive tools; drove 300% traffic increase.
Senior Producer / Production Team Lead

AOL Digital City, Inc. (DCI)

(Internet industry)

August 1996 — September 1997 (1 year 2 months)

• Wrote, designed, and produced original and provider-sourced content for a local city guide site.

• Helped site rank highest in popularity within the DCI network, achieving 30%+ greater usage than most major market sites in the country.

• Expanded position as traffic and editorial leader among all markets while reducing editorial staff 50% and content expenses 60%.
Editor / Producer

TV Guide Online

(Public Company; GMST; Online Media industry)

May 1995 — July 1996 (1 year 3 months)

• Supervised 4-person team and developed news and humor features and other original content.

• Wrote/edited short reviews of entertainment, finance, and business sites.

• Prepared video and audio for production.
Staff Writer

NetGuide Magazine

(Internet industry)

June 1994 — May 1995 (1 year)

Reported on and critiqued online services, Internet and Web sites and content for national consumer magazine (circulation: 250,000).
Public Relations Associate

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

(Government Agency; Architecture & Planning industry)

June 1993 — June 1994 (1 year 1 month)

Wrote and edited press releases and newsletters; coordinated publication design and production; planned and executed promotions and marketing activities.

Matt Fischer’s Education

University of Virginia - Darden Graduate School of Business Administration

MBA , Business Administration , 2006 — 2008

• Received Faculty Award for Academic Excellence (top 10% of graduating class)

• Wrote for-hire business case for operations curriculum on on-demand manufacturing

• Invited to develop and deliver "Web Fluency for Executives" lecture (2008)
Syracuse University

BA , Magazine Journalism; Policy Studies , 1989 — 1993
Moorestown High School

1985 — 1989