Joined Pluto TV as a small startup in 2015 that dramatically scaled, was acquired by Viacom (now Paramount) and is the leading Free ad-supported TV service available on web, mobile, and TV devices.Led and Implemented the Vendor Management function for People Scaling for PLUTO TV including international and domestic contractors, and accelerating FTE hiring using vendors. Groups supported include Engineering, Product, BI, PMO, and supporting functions (content, marketing, finance, etc). The primary objective is to help Pluto TV dramatically scale its engineering team (for the last 8 years).Accomplishments include:• Established the vendor management function (currently reporting to the SVP Technology Strategy). Negotiated agreements with and established all of the vendor relationships for scaling the contractor workforce both domestic and international.o Manage 20+ strategic+vendor relationships resulting ~200-300 or more engineering headcount hired worldwide each year and personally negotiating ~500-600 contracts / SOW’s each year.o Implemented strategies to reduce pricing but also signicantly increased vendor hiring velocity for engineering, Product, BI, and supported other groups as well (content, operations, finance). • Negotiated over 10 major team-focused offshoring MSA’s (Ukraine, LATAM, Africa) that leveraged unique specified margin / cost-plus agreements resulting in far lower costs but also increased retention, scaling speed, and an ability to convert contractors to FTE worldwide. Also leveraged over 10 Paramount vendor MSA’s and negotiated many specialized terms and pricing at the SOW level that saved significant contract dollars over the standard rate tables. Also negotiated special terms that facilitated rapid scaling of the FTE teams at low-cost using contractor conversions.• Established the vendor management metrics function and reported on staffing speed, diversity, progress versus goals, retention and turnover, and results.

We are hiring! TechTalent specializes in recruiting permanent and contract teams for high-tech industries such as Interactive/Online TV, Streaming Video and Content Distribution, Broadband / Networking, and SoftwareDev for consumer and mobile devices. See www.techtalent.org / www.jonfrench.meTechTalent Clients are major industry players such as Web video service providers and media software companies, video and network equipment providers, Security software providers, Video Camera Companies, ISP’s, and network equipment providers and service providers, etc.Accomplishments include:• Recruited numerous VP and higher executives – including CEO, CTO, SVP Engineering (multiple), Director and VP’s of Sales, VP of Operations and Finance, VP of Content, Product Management, and Program Management, and Engineering (full stack, mobile, devops, QA, etc). Advised CEO, founders, and board members.• Established volume relationships with major clients: Currently helping on online video startup more than quadruple their size in 3 years (all areas). Helped a Fortune 100 video group recruit Head of Sales and numerous Sales Directors and Technical staff, Helped a major cable company build an Advanced video Engineering team. Helped a Global consumer electronics firm build a new software team for DirecTV in CA. etc.Recent Recruitment Successes...• Placed key executives and many staff for video, web, and IOT startups (VP's of Engineering, Directors of Engineering – Mobile and Server, Head of Sales, VP of Content Acquisition, Director of Analytics, Director Product/Program Managers, and many engineers• Recruited Sales executives (at VP & Director levels) and technical staff for the online video provider for HBO GO and video startups.• Recruited numerous software and engineering staff for a sports - action camera company.• Many more technical, sales, and business placements for web software companies, cable and telecom, video services, and software providers...

Americast was a digital TV joint venture funded by the Walt Disney Company and five major telephone companies (GTE, BellSouth, SBC, Ameritech, SNET) to develop a digital TV platform, navigation software, national programming, and marketing.As Vice President - reporting to the CEO/President, and responsible for all technology development, including management of 120 highly qualified technical employees. Technology responsibilities included multimedia software design for digital TV and Internet TV, systems engineering for an end-end digital TV compression and delivery platform, large scale systems integration, and software quality assurance.Completed a major platform release of an end-end digital TV system – which is being used by BellSouth to offer Wireless (MMDS) digital TV in New Orleans La and Atlanta Ga, and by GTE in Hawaii.

SBC Technology Resources is the high-technology R&D subsidiary of SBC Communications (now AT&T)As Director - Interactive Video / Multimedia Software - Responsible for overseeing software development for interactive TV (ITV) and multimedia development. Led a multi-company technology team for technical due-diligence on the Americast joint venture with Walt Disney Co., and major telcos. Later asked to head technology for Americast.As Director - Strategic Products (Technology) - Manage multi-function teams involving 25+ personnel from corporate strategic planning and marketing, technology research, and operating subsidiaries. Coordinated all aspects of product planning and development (marketing, financial, technical, strategic, and new business case development). Reported to a committee of top executives.

Barber Colman Co. provides building automation and energy management products (digital controllers, software, components) for new / existing construction. Technical Manager of 11 engineers and 3 project leaders. Responsible for development of the HOST-8000 family of software products including a large (300,000+ lines of code) PC UNIX based network monitoring system for a distributed building automation system. Proposed and implemented features which doubled sales and increased market penetration (including internationalization). From 89-91, successfully "rehabilitated" a development group by providing 6 major releases with enhancements and new features on-time and within budget. Achieved 75% reductions in QA time by implementing structured design techniques, rapid prototyping, code reviews, and structured testing methods. On 4-8-91, received an extremely rare "Clearly Superior" performance rating.