Jonathan Ewert

Jonathan is a proven executive with global expertise in Internet advertising networks, social networking, e-commerce, and professional services. Mr. Ewert has a consistent track record in business transformation, working capital improvement, business development strategy and execution, organizational change management, and business process re-engineering to drive shareholder value. He is regarded as an authentic and passionate leader with a strong client focus and is a speaker at industry conferences such as Search Engine Strategies and Local Social.

Mr. Ewert was most recently Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for LookSmart (NASDAQ: LOOK), a leading search advertising network and management company, where he led the turnaround of the media business. Mr. Ewert joined LookSmart in April 2007 as East Coast Vice President, Advertising and Publisher

Services and was promoted to General Manager of Advertising Networks in September 2007, to Senior Vice President in October 2008, and to SVP of Corporate Development in April 2009. Through a combination of discontinuing certain operations, enhancing the product portfolio, doubling the size and coverage of the network, and revitalizing the sales and marketing organizations, Mr. Ewert’s leadership resulted in quarter-over-quarter revenue and paid click gains of 50% while decreasing operating expenses at the same time.

From 2003 – 2006, Mr. Ewert served as Chief Executive Officer of ePALS until selling the company. At ePALS, Mr. Ewert eliminated barriers to solvency and growth,
secured $7 million in debt and equity financing, and achieved revenue growth and cash flow break even through expansion of core assets. Prior to ePALS, Mr. Ewert served as VP Business Development to restart eCommerce Solutions, and as VP of Marketing and Corporate Communications for Modem Media, where he led the preparation and positioning of the company for Modem’s successful IPO in 1999.

Previously, Mr. Ewert served in a variety of management roles at Infoseek Corp. until the sale of the company to Disney in 1998. From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Ewert merged Audio Ad, Inc. with Newspaper Voice Services to create a $50 million interactive voice response service bureau serving the publishing industry with customers such as Gannett, Knight-Ridder, and Tribune Company.

Mr. Ewert is a past Board member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, serves on the Advisory Board of The Guru Nation, the Advisory Board of Stuart Levine & Associates, and the Steering Committee of Project Inkwell, an organization that has built standards to accelerate the deployment of 1:1 technologies onto K-12 desktops worldwide. Mr. Ewert also serves on the Advisory Board of Cancer101, a non-profit that provides tools and resources to the newly diagnosed. He earned his B.A. in Political Science in 1986 from the College of the Holy Cross.

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Local Content & Monetisation – A View from Europe

The local media landscape in Europe is unique in many ways and in particular is different to the US market. However, Google still dominates on the search side (both in terms of advertising and traffic volumes) in many European markets and is particularly strong in the UK. Yet Google is also a great source of traffic and revenue for many local publishers. In this panel we examine what makes local media different in Europe.  We will explore how media owners are attracting users and growing traffic. Will look at innovative partnerships and business models. In addition we will discuss what strategies are working for attracting local advertising revenue and look at where growth is coming from 2010 and beyond.
Moderator: Jonathan Ewert, Co-Founder Skepsis Group
Panel:

• Simon Greenman, MD – Online, European Directories
• James Thornett, Executive Product Manager, BBC Local and Location Services
• Ben Barney, Akesios
• Joachim Helfer, Müller Medien
• Roland Bryan, Associated Northcliffe Digital