Strategic Planning, Consulting and Execution
Worked with senior management and international consultants to define and later
revise long term strategy for El Universal.
Led execution of Internet strategy for the newspaper, developing EUD.com into the
premier online community in Venezuela.
Headed execution strategic investments for El Universal in the US.
Held Director or Advisor position in portfolio companies to actively participate in the
development of strategies for portfolio companies.
Product Development and Marketing
Successfully piloted, developed, marketed and launched El Universal’s website in 1995
and continued to manage the product until 2000.
Conceptualized and led development of three vertical classified websites to leverage
and strengthen the newspaper’s leadership in the classified market. These sites
focused on Real State, Automobiles and Employment.
Created 4 different brands for El Universal, currently rated among the highest recalled
brands in Venezuela for Internet related services.
Led selection of advertising agencies for new vertical classified sites and the design
of their advertising campaigns.
Led redesign of eluniversal.com, which remains the highest traffic website in
Venezuela, with total sales 40% higher than its closest competitor.
Supported the development of a New York based free-sheet newspaper for US
Hispanics. Provided extensive research and developed the business plan and financial
models.
People Development and Organizational Development
Repeatedly recruited and led multi- disciplinary teams to execute newspaper’s
strategies, including recruitment of CTO to supervise web team and heading 4
simultaneous products.
Developed El Universal’s new media division to become a division with more 100
employees by year 2000.
Led effort of opening the US affiliate for El Universal, improving responsiveness of
development team and saving more than 30% in costs.
Hired and managed team of professionals for strategic venture capital investment.
Extensive experience in the management of teams of international consultants.
Due diligence, Negotiation and Market Analysis
Evaluated potential partners and negotiated sale of El Universal’s community brand
(EUD.com), the best known Internet site in Venezuela.
Developed investment criteria for corporate venture group, later used to weed out
innumerable business plans.
In charge of due-diligence and risk assessment for various viable investment
alternatives.
Led negotiations for $1.3 million investment in NTara, ensuring transference of
strategic value to El Universal and coordinating legal aspects of required transactions
with counsel.
Led the efforts to develop a joint venture between El Universal and an Internet Pan
regional player in Latin America. This process involved the selection of the right
partner for the organization, the parallel negotiation with potential partners, the
structuring of the final deal as well as its implementation. This deal represented an
eight figure transaction for the company.
Led the relationship with a private investment firm for the development of road show
materials and Information Memorandum in an effort to raise capital for one of the
company’s ventures in Florida.
1. Accomplishments
