Executive with experience leading and scaling technology businesses, with a focus on mobile software, ecommerce, and media. I joined Pocket Gems as the first business hire and helped scale the business from 7 to nearly 200 employees. As VP of Business Operations, I built our marketing, analytics, and finance functions, and oversaw development of our user acquisition platfrom, growing our installed base to over 150 million.
I was responsible for the operations of our portfolio of live products across the iOS, Android, and Amazon platforms, which generated over $80 million in revenue in 2013. In this role, I oversaw the product management, marketing, and analytics functions for our top grossing titles Paradise Cove, Campus Life, Secret Passages, and Animal Voyage. Additionally, I was a key member of the management team involved in strategy, corporate and business development, as well as interactions with the Board at our BOD meetings.
Currently leading the business operations function at Glassdoor.
Areas of expertise include: user acquisition / performance marketing, growth, product marketing, analytics, product management, product strategy, strategic planning, business development, and corporate development.
Sr. Director, Head of Business Operations @ From 2015 to Present (less than a year) Vice President of Business Operations @ • First business hire and core member of executive team at Sequoia-backed mobile games company, integral to scaling company from 7 to over 175 employees and revenue of $82M in 2013
• Responsible for key revenue-generating and marketing activities, overseeing a team of 65 across live game operations, marketing, analytics, and finance functions
• Build marketing, analytics, and finance teams from the ground up, defining strategy, establishing critical processes and technical infrastructure, and hiring executives to head each function
• Lead live game studio, responsible for product strategy, product development, operations, and P&L management. Portfolio includes top grossing iOS and Android franchises, including: Paradise Cove, Campus Life, Animal Voyage, and Secret Passages
• Create go-to-market strategies for 40+ products across iOS, Google Play, and Amazon platforms, growing installed base to over 150M through a variety of paid, cross-promotion, and organic channels
• Profitably manage annual marketing budget using proprietary SQL-based analytics system and lifetime value model
• Drive key strategic planning, and corporate development activities, prepare investor materials, and attend board meetings From 2010 to 2015 (5 years) San Francisco Bay AreaSummer Manager, Corporate Business Development @ Assessed variety of investment opportunities and developed strategic recommendations for Cisco Corporate Development group, with focus on digital media businesses From 2009 to 2009 (less than a year) Associate @ • Evaluated and monitored investments for a $5BN technology-focused private equity fund
• Managed all aspects of M&A process, including: conducting business due diligence; managing diligence advisors; building financial models; creating reports for internal investment reviews; raising debt financing; negotiating legal agreements; developing work plans; and managing junior associates
• Assisted management at portfolio companies with M&A activities and other strategic initiatives
• Selected transaction experience: growth equity buy-out of AdvancedMD, $40M investment in Blue Coat Systems, add-on acquisition of Centennial Software by portfolio company FrontRange Solutions, sale of portfolio company Metrologic Instruments to Honeywell International From 2006 to 2008 (2 years) San Francisco Bay AreaAssociate Consultant @ • Advised clients on M&A and corporate strategy projects across a broad range of industries
• Primary responsibilities included: developing financial models, conducting primary and secondary research, assessing market dynamics, and presenting findings to clients and internal L.E.K. teams
• Received top performance rating in 12, 18, 24, and 30-month reviews
• Spent six months in Melbourne office as part of company program for top-performing employees From 2003 to 2006 (3 years) Greater Boston Area
MBA, Business @ Stanford University Graduate School of Business From 2008 to 2010 Sc. B., Electrical Engineering @ Brown University From 1998 to 2002 Adrian Kaplan is skilled in: Strategy, Digital Media, Mobile Devices, Entrepreneurship, Mobile Games, Leadership, E-commerce, Competitive Analysis, Venture Capital, Management Consulting, Analytics