Shay Soroush Email & Phone Number

Istanbul, Türkiye

Greater Los Angeles Area

CENSUS 2020 and california.gov - Advertising Agency for Ethnic Markets

Los Angeles, California, United States

As Managing Partner and President of GEM Group's North American offices, I oversaw daily operations, policy development, resource coordination, and the strategic alignment of media broadcasts with business objectives. Additionally, I led the development of the corporation in North America, focusing on physical presence, market share expansion in advertisement and viewership, and growing the on-demand audience.Key Responsibilities: Developed and implemented policies for media… Show more As Managing Partner and President of GEM Group's North American offices, I oversaw daily operations, policy development, resource coordination, and the strategic alignment of media broadcasts with business objectives. Additionally, I led the development of the corporation in North America, focusing on physical presence, market share expansion in advertisement and viewership, and growing the on-demand audience.Key Responsibilities: Developed and implemented policies for media production, ensuring efficient use of resources and adherence to industry standards. Coordinated all resources necessary for media production, optimizing workflows and processes. Ensured media broadcasts met established business objectives and quality standards. Provided input to strategic decisions affecting the functional areas of responsibility, contributing to the overall direction and success of the organization. Managed the development of the corporation's physical presence in North America. Expanded market share in advertisement and viewership. Grew the on-demand audience, enhancing the company’s digital footprint.Key Achievements: Successfully streamlined operational processes, enhancing efficiency and productivity across the North American offices. Implemented strategic policies that aligned media production with business goals, improving broadcast quality and audience engagement. Played a pivotal role in strategic decision-making, impacting the growth and development of GEM Group’s media operations in North America. Significantly increased market share in advertisement and viewership. Expanded the on-demand audience, contributing to the company’s overall growth and success in the digital arena. Show less

Dubai, Kualalumpur, Istanbul, Antalya

As Chief Business Development Officer, I led transformative expansions in Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Antalya, and Dubai. My strategic efforts significantly reshaped the media landscape, driving substantial growth and establishing new benchmarks.Key Responsibilities: Kuala Lumpur: Oversaw the strategic setup of the Kuala Lumpur office, ensuring global standards were met. Spearheaded the creation of new departments and launched GEM Online, a pioneering video on demand platform.… Show more As Chief Business Development Officer, I led transformative expansions in Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Antalya, and Dubai. My strategic efforts significantly reshaped the media landscape, driving substantial growth and establishing new benchmarks.Key Responsibilities: Kuala Lumpur: Oversaw the strategic setup of the Kuala Lumpur office, ensuring global standards were met. Spearheaded the creation of new departments and launched GEM Online, a pioneering video on demand platform. Istanbul and Antalya: Conducted market analyses to identify opportunities for high-quality, cost-effective media production. Developed specialized facilities in Antalya for film and series production, and established infrastructure in Istanbul for TV talk shows and news production. Dubai: Enhanced advertising operations, dramatically increasing ad rates from $2 to $100 per second on Iranian satellite TV. Secured major advertising partnerships with global giants like Unilever, P&G, Samsung, LG, and Damac for the first time on Iranian Satellite television.Key Achievements: Kuala Lumpur: Managed a rapid scale-up, growing our staff from hundreds to thousands, and significantly expanded operational capacity. Built over 40 dubbing studios, reducing dubbing costs from $15 per minute to $2.5 per minute. GEM Online attracted 10,000 paid subscribers in three years, each paying $100 annually being the first ever paid VOD platform in Farsi. Istanbul and Antalya: Successfully launched 53 new TV channels, diversifying content across various languages (Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Arabic) and genres (sports, news, movies, music, lifestyle, education). Dubai: Reformed advertisement sales strategies, boosting revenue to tens of millions of dollars and enhancing financial performance. Show less

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

As the Director of Content Acquisition at GEM Group, I led a team that was pivotal in transforming the television content landscape for the Iranian audience. We specialized in identifying and procuring high-impact content that resonated deeply with regional viewers.Key Responsibilities: Led strategic content identification and acquisition, focusing on aligning offerings with the channel's brand and audience preferences. Negotiated and secured broadcast and streaming… Show more As the Director of Content Acquisition at GEM Group, I led a team that was pivotal in transforming the television content landscape for the Iranian audience. We specialized in identifying and procuring high-impact content that resonated deeply with regional viewers.Key Responsibilities: Led strategic content identification and acquisition, focusing on aligning offerings with the channel's brand and audience preferences. Negotiated and secured broadcast and streaming rights for a variety of content, ensuring compliance and favorable terms. Managed a cross-functional team, collaborating with programming, marketing, and legal departments to streamline the acquisition process. Conducted extensive market research to understand trends and viewer demographics across similar cultural landscapes. Oversaw budget allocation for content purchases, optimizing spending to maximize viewership and return on investment.Key Achievements: Initiated and conducted groundbreaking market research that identified a strong viewer affinity towards Turkish soap operas in markets with cultural similarities to Iran. Successfully acquired the rights to "Aşk-ı Memnu" ("Forbidden Love"), the first Turkish series broadcast for a Farsi-speaking audience, setting a precedent in the Persian media industry. This strategic move not only diversified our content offerings but also sparked a significant trend, as Turkish series became a staple in Persian-speaking households, greatly enhancing our channel's popularity and influence.Skills Utilized: Strategic Planning and Market Analysis Expert Negotiation and Contract Management Innovative Thinking and Problem Solving Team Leadership and Project Management Budget Management and Financial Oversight Show less

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

As the Development Lead and Producer at GEM Group, I spearheaded the launch of GEM Music, the first music-focused satellite television channel in Iran's media history. This role required innovative content acquisition strategies and creative production approaches, establishing new standards in the industry.Key Responsibilities: Led the strategic development and operational launch of GEM Music, shaping the channel's direction and infrastructure. Negotiated… Show more As the Development Lead and Producer at GEM Group, I spearheaded the launch of GEM Music, the first music-focused satellite television channel in Iran's media history. This role required innovative content acquisition strategies and creative production approaches, establishing new standards in the industry.Key Responsibilities: Led the strategic development and operational launch of GEM Music, shaping the channel's direction and infrastructure. Negotiated groundbreaking contracts for music rights and behind-the-scenes content with major international labels like Sony Music, navigating the intricacies of international copyright laws. Cultivated partnerships with a broad network of Iranian and international artists and labels to ensure a rich and varied programming lineup. Orchestrated "Club GEM," a first-of-its-kind live club event broadcast from Dubai's top clubs, tailored specifically for an Iranian audience deprived of such experiences locally. Managed cross-functional teams to maintain high production values, ensure seamless broadcast operations, and uphold compliance with international standards.Achievements: Successfully introduced a pioneering business model for music broadcasting in Iran, significantly influencing the regional media landscape. Enhanced viewer engagement through "Club GEM," which became a landmark program for the channel, offering unique entertainment that significantly boosted viewership numbers. Built and sustained high-value relationships with global music industry stakeholders, which increased the channel’s credibility and expanded its audience reach.Skills Utilized: Strategic Planning and Business Development Copyright Negotiation and Compliance International Partnership Development Live Event Production and Broadcast Management Team Leadership and Project Coordination Show less

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

As the Executive Assistant to the Chairman, Saeed Karimian, a renowned multicultural serial entrepreneur with diverse business interests, I was entrusted with comprehensive management responsibilities. My role was pivotal in coordinating all aspects of the Chairman's professional life, including his schedules, projects, and various business engagements across multiple companies.Key Responsibilities: Managed and optimized the Chairman's extensive and complex calendar of… Show more As the Executive Assistant to the Chairman, Saeed Karimian, a renowned multicultural serial entrepreneur with diverse business interests, I was entrusted with comprehensive management responsibilities. My role was pivotal in coordinating all aspects of the Chairman's professional life, including his schedules, projects, and various business engagements across multiple companies.Key Responsibilities: Managed and optimized the Chairman's extensive and complex calendar of appointments, meetings, and travel itineraries to ensure efficient time management. Coordinated and oversaw critical projects, ensuring seamless operation and timely completion in alignment with strategic objectives. Acted as a primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, facilitating communication to maintain robust professional relationships. Prepared and reviewed financial reports, providing detailed insights and recommendations to support decision-making processes. Supervised a diverse team, fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring adherence to company standards and practices. Streamlined operations and implemented organizational processes that enhanced productivity across departments.Achievements: Successfully managed the Chairman's multifaceted portfolio with utmost confidentiality and efficiency, leading to improved organizational output. Promoted to Office Manager within six months, recognizing my pivotal role in managing financial reports and administrative tasks effectively. Led the transition and management of the Dubai office, driving growth and operational excellence in a key market for the company.Skills Utilized: Leadership and Team Management Financial Reporting and Analysis Strategic Planning and Execution Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Time Management and Organizational Efficiency Show less