Paul Melcher

Current

Senior Vice President and Co-Founder at PictureGroup
Owner/Founder at Melcher System
CKO at Zymmetrical.com

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Past

Director of North American Operations and Sales at Rex Features
Content Strategist at adbynet
Ceo at CompassMedia

Vice President of Sales at Digital Railroad, Inc
Director of North American Operations and Sales at Hachette Filipacchi Photo Group
President at Abaca US, Inc
Executive Vice-President and Partner at ImageDirect, Inc
Director of Operations at London Features International
Manager, International Services at Corbis
Sales director at LGI

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7 more...

Education

Université Paris Dauphine
Lycee International St Germain en Laye

Recommended

8 people have recommended Paul

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Photography

Websites

Paul Melcher’s Summary

Innovative sales and operations senior executive with more than 17 years experience in world-renowned photo agencies with a strong background in editorial and digital imaging work flow management. Built and managed revolutionary new sales work flows and businesses. Sold or help sell 2 companies in separate multi million deals. Named one of the “50 most influential people in photography” by American Photo magazine.

Paul Melcher’s Specialties:

• Digital Imaging
• Work flow Development
• Sales / Marketing Management
• Information Technology
• Professional Photography
• New business development

Paul Melcher’s Experience

Senior Vice President and Co-Founder

PictureGroup

(Photography industry)

2009 — Present (less than a year)

PICTUREGROUP is a company specializing in the production, distribution, licensing, and monetization of still photography and video. We provide corporations and artists in the entertainment and sports industries with a photographic strategy and platform to enhance their brands, drive revenue, increase online traffic, lower production cost, and take control of their intellectual property.
Owner/Founder

Melcher System

(Photography industry)

December 2008 — Present (1 year )

Consultant for photo agencies, software companies and independent photographers
CKO

Zymmetrical.com

(Photography industry)

April 2007 — Present (2 years 8 months)

Chief Knowledge Officer and Co-Owner of the first midstock portal offering user-generated videos, fonts, graphics and photography to the budget-conscious worldwide creative community. More at http://www.zymmetrical.com
Director of North American Operations and Sales

Rex Features

(Photography industry)

2008 — 2008 (less than a year)

Rex Features, Established in 1954, has become Britain's leading independent photographic press agency and picture library; distributing news, celebrity and stock imagery to newspapers, magazines, television and websites Worldwide.
Its websites, one of the most popular with the media in the UK, provides immediate, easy access to more than 3,000,000 images.
Over 1,500 new images are added daily, and its off-line library of over 15 million images is always available for more complex research requests.
Content Strategist

adbynet

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

2007 — 2008 (1 year )

AdByNet specializes in online ad media creation, planning and buying solutions for businesses and is especially adept in Internet display advertising, including banner, video and rich media ads. Advising business on content acquisition and retention for its client.
Ceo

CompassMedia

(Photography industry)

2007 — 2007 (less than a year)
Vice President of Sales

Digital Railroad, Inc

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

February 2006 — November 2006 (10 months)

Created and implemented sales strategy worldwide for photography ASP Company. Build a network of National and International sales executives. More than doubled registered members in less than 7 months in 55 countries. Heavily contributed in Product and Marketing short and long term strategic decision.
Director of North American Operations and Sales

Hachette Filipacchi Photo Group

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Photography industry)

July 2004 — January 2006 (1 year 7 months)

Managed sales, operations, production and editing for celebrity and news content.
Responsible for increased market penetration, sales and content development.
Headed the integration initiative of numerous prestigious agencies such as Gamma, Rapho, TOP into one successful hub. Doubled revenues on the US market in less than a year while increasing production of content value for international markets.
President

Abaca US, Inc

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Photography industry)

August 2003 — July 2004 (1 year )

Created and launched North American website (www.abacausa.com). Increased revenues three fold in the course of one year, designed, negotiated and built market sensitive North American website, created both sales and production teams. Cemented key corporate relationship (Knight Ridder Tribune, PA photos, Los Angeles Times)
Executive Vice-President and Partner

ImageDirect, Inc

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Photography industry)

January 2000 — December 2003 (4 years )

Spearheaded the most successful digital photo agency launch ever, both in market share and name recognition, garnering 2,000% above former licensing revenues within the first year. Increasing sales revenues by 150% in the second year. Helped sale the company to Getty Images in a multi million dollar deal.
Responsible for creation and development of all ImageDirect departments.
• Conceived and developed real time on-line distribution platform
(http://www.imagedirect.com/)
• Developed and managed a network of 23 affiliates worldwide.
• Created I.T. solutions applying hardware and software development.
• Managed financial department.
• Hire and trained photographer in digital photography and workflow
• Managed key relationship with corporate clients (ABC, MTV, FOX, NBC, Atlantic Records,
USA Today and the NFL.)
• Negotiated long-term strategic contracts with such clients as AOL.
• Initiated new business development venture. Created and supervised yearly budgets.
Director of Operations

London Features International

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Photography industry)

October 1999 — December 2000 (1 year 3 months)

• Transitioned a noted celebrity photo agency from analog to digital sales.
• Implemented 24-hour scanning operation to provide digital image archiving, retrieval and client fulfillment.
• Upgrading to electronic distribution increased overall revenues by 20 % within four months
Manager, International Services

Corbis

(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Photography industry)

January 1997 — May 1999 (2 years 5 months)

• Selected to create new divisional international department
• Created fully operational department including budget, tracking tools, collection operation and International rights management
• Identified new partners in major overseas markets and maintained administration of pre-existing sub licenses
• Conceived new International digital only business model.
Business Manager, Corbis-LGI division
1997 – 1998
• Redefined global sales strategy, including digital image delivery system via the Internet.
• Lowered production costs while increasing sales.
• Negotiated lucrative representation deal between Corbis and a major NYC newspaper
• Oversaw day-to-day business operations, created annual budget and expanded sales staff.
• Successfully completed full integration.
Sales director

LGI

(Photography industry)

1994 — 1998 (4 years )

Paul Melcher’s Education

Université Paris Dauphine

BA , economics , 1981 — 1985
Lycee International St Germain en Laye

BBaccalaureat (with Honors) , Economy , 1972 — 1981

Activities and Societies:

Created rugby team
Photo club president
Undergraduate philosophy classes