Ellen Siminoff
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Ellen FriedmanTrewyn, Phill. [https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2002/02/18/tidbits.html "Ex-Yahoo! exec from Milwaukee plots next move,"] Milwaukee Business Journal (Feb 17, 2002).
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1967}}
| birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Entrepreneur, Investor
| years_active = 1996–present
| education = B.A., Princeton University
MBA, Stanford University
| known_for = Yahoo! (founding executive)
Shmoop (co-founder)
| notable_works =
| spouse = {{marriage|David Siminoff|1994}}
| children = 2
}}
Ellen Siminoff (born 1967, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an entrepreneur, board member and investor.{{cite web |title=Entrepreneurial Women Who Inspire Us {{!}} Posts {{!}} 8VC |url=https://www.8vc.com/resources/entrepreneurial-women-who-inspire-us |website=www.8vc.com |language=EN}} Frequently quoted in The New York Times as an Internet industry commentator,{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/05/technology/05soft.html | work=The New York Times | first1=John | last1=Markoff | title=Rumors Fly on Microsoft and Yahoo | date=2007-05-05}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/technology/07yahoo.html | work=The New York Times | first=Miguel | last=Helft | title=Industry Insiders Praise Yahoo Choice for Key Post | date=2006-12-07}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/technology/03google.html | work=The New York Times | first=Miguel | last=Helft | title=Google Cutting 300 Jobs at DoubleClick | date=2008-04-03}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/technology/05yahoo.html | work=The New York Times | first=Miguel | last=Helft | title=A Long-Delayed Ad System Has Yahoo Crossing Its Fingers | date=2007-02-05}} Siminoff was named one of Forbes magazine's Masters of Information in 2005.{{cite news|first=Quentin |last=Hardy |url=https://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2005/0905/118.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124210122/http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2005/0905/118.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 24, 2005 |title=2005 E-Gang: The Keyword Keeper |work=Forbes.com |date= 2005-09-05|access-date=2013-10-07}}
Along with her husband, David Siminoff, Ellen is co-founder and former chief executive officer of Shmoop.Ringle, Hayley. [https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2019/07/01/silicon-valley-edtech-company-founded-by-former.html "Silicon Valley edtech company founded by former Yahoo executive moves HQ to Scottsdale: Affordable talent a driving factor in company relocation, exec says,"] Phoenix Business Journal (July 1, 2019).
Life and education
Siminoff obtained a BA in economics from Princeton University and an MBA from Stanford University,{{cite web |url=http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/6480.asp |title=Q&A with Efficient Frontier's Ellen Siminoff |publisher=iMediaConnection.com |access-date=2013-10-07 |archive-date=2014-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122081735/http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/6480.asp |url-status=dead }} where she met her husband David Siminoff while they were students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.{{cite web |last1=Journal |first1=Kara SwisherStaff Reporter of The Wall Street |title=The Couple of Silicon Valley: They Are Definitely Connected |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB915581670399883500 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=27 May 2020 |date=6 January 1999 |quote=They met at Stanford Business School in 1991 and fell in love while making a killing.}}
She also has a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies Software Engineering from Harvard University.{{cite web |title=Past Lecturers and Fellows {{!}} The G. S. Beckwith Gilbert '63 Lectures |url=https://gilbertlectures.princeton.edu/past-lecturers |website=gilbertlectures.princeton.edu |language=en}}
Career
Siminoff is a seasoned executive in the media and technology sectors, From 2007 to 2018, she served as president and CEO of Shmoop University, an educational publishing company.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Owen |title=Zynga Taps A Veteran Of Yahoo's Glory Days To Its Board |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/zynga-ellen-siminoff-board-2012-7 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Prior to this role, she was president and CEO of Efficient Frontier, a company specializing in dynamic Search Engine Marketing (SEM) management services, which was later acquired by Adobe.{{Cite web |title=Zynga appoints former Yahoo exec to board |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/zynga-appoints-former-yahoo-exec-to-board-idUSL2E8IJLK6/ |website=Reuters}}
= Yahoo! =
Siminoff was a founding executive at Yahoo!,{{cite web |last1=Musil |first1=Steven |title=Zynga adds ex-Yahoo exec Ellen Siminoff to board of directors |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/zynga-adds-ex-yahoo-exec-ellen-siminoff-to-board-of-directors/ |website=CNET |access-date=27 May 2020 |language=en}} working at the company from 1996 to 2002.{{cite web |last1=MacMillan |first1=Douglas |title=Zynga Adds Diversity to Board With Yahoo Veteran Ellen Siminof |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-07-19/zynga-adds-diversity-to-board-with-yahoo-veteran-ellen-siminoff |website=www.bloomberg.com |access-date=27 May 2020 |date=2012-07-19}} She started by running corporate and business development, running mergers and acquisitions after the departure of J. J. Healy.{{cite book |last1=Angel |first1=Karen |title=Inside Yahoo!: Reinvention and the Road Ahead |date=2002 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-471-42102-3 |page=233 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ko30VuEpSnYC&q=ellen+siminoff+Senior+Vice+President+Entertainment+and+Small+Business+yahoo&pg=PA233 |language=en}} Later Siminoff moved to Senior Vice President of Entertainment and Small Business, with Toby Coppel and Jeff Weiner taking over corporate development.{{cite web |url=http://docs.yahoo.com/info/investor/inv_officers.html |title=Yahoo! Directors & Officers |publisher=Yahoo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319172301/http://docs.yahoo.com/info/investor/inv_officers.html |archive-date=2013-03-19}} Six months later, Yahoo announced on April 13, 2002, that Siminoff decided to leave the company but would stay through until the end of the year.{{cite web |last1=Hu |first1=Jim |title=Yahoo loses key senior exec |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/yahoo-loses-key-senior-exec/ |website=CNET |access-date=27 May 2020 |language=en}} Her departure was part of a high-profile exodus of Yahoo executives, including CEO Timothy Koogle, CFO Gary Valenzuela, sales chief Anil Singh, head of international operations Heather Killen, and marketing head Karen Edwards.
= Efficient Frontier =
Siminoff was former chairman and CEO of Efficient Frontier.{{cite web |url=http://efrontier.com/efficient-frontier/aboutus/board.html |title=Board Members |publisher=Efficient Frontier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704121751/http://www.efrontier.com/efficient-frontier/aboutus/board.html |archive-date=2008-07-04}} In July 2006 Bloomberg Businessweek noted that Efficient Frontier was the largest buyer of search advertising keywords on Google,{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_30/b3994069.htm |title=Efficient Frontier: Hacking Madison Avenue |work=BusinessWeek |date=2006-07-23 |access-date=2013-10-07 |url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120622133445/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_30/b3994069.htm |archive-date=2012-06-22 }} and in March 2008 Silicon Alley Insider named Efficient Frontier one of the 25 most valuable privately held companies in Silicon Valley, valued at an estimated $275 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/companies/efficient-frontier |title=23. Efficient Frontier |work=Business Insider |date=2008-03-28 |access-date=2014-05-05}} Adobe Inc. bought Efficient Frontier for $400 million in 2012.{{cite book |last1=Bloom |first1=Jeremy |title=Fueled By Failure: Using Detours and Defeats to Power Progress |date=2015 |publisher=Entrepreneur Press |isbn=978-1-61308-307-9 |page=74 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hykfCAAAQBAJ&q=Efficient+Frontier+sold+to+adobe+400+million&pg=PA74 |language=en|quote=[David Karnstedt] later went on to run North American sales for Yahoo! And became CEO of a unified software advertising platform called Efficient Frontier, a company that would later sell to Adobe for $400 million.}}{{cite web |title=Adobe Completes Acquisition of Efficient Frontier |url=https://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201201/011612AdobeCloseEfficientFrontier.html |website=Adobe |quote=Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the completion of its acquisition of privately held Efficient Frontier|date=2012-01-16|access-date=27 May 2020 }}
=Zynga=
In 2012, she was appointed to Zynga Inc.'s board of directors.{{cite web |title=Zynga appoints former Yahoo exec to board |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/zynga-appoints-former-yahoo-exec-to-board-idUSL2E8IJLK6/ |website=Reuters}}
In November 2012, Siminoff purchased 250,000 shares of the company.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Owen |title=A Zynga Board Member BOUGHT $560,000 Worth Of Zynga Stock Last Week |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ellen-siminoff-zynga-buy-2012-11 |website=Business Insider}} She served on Zynga's board from 2012 to 2022, where she was a member of the Audit Committee and chaired the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.{{cite web |title=Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. - |url=https://ir.take2games.com/node/?mobile=1&page=9 |website=ir.take2games.com |language=en}}
=Take-Two Interactive=
Ellen Siminoff became a director of Take-Two Interactive in May 2022, following the company's merger with Zynga.Bilton, Nick. [https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/31/at-mozilla-an-anit-gay-marriage-chief-creates-conflict/?searchResultPosition=3 "At Mozilla, a Chief’s Support of Gay Marriage Ban Causes Conflict,"] New York Times (MARCH 31, 2014).{{cite web|publisher=Mozilla|title=Leadership Changes|date=March 24, 2014|url=https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2014/03/24/mozilla-leadership-changes|type=blog|access-date=March 24, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/03/28/three-mozilla-board-members-resign-over-choice-of-new-ceo/|title=Three Mozilla Board Members Resign over Choice of New CEO|author=Alistair Barr|work=WSJ|access-date=2017-08-04|archive-date=2020-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425070742/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/03/28/three-mozilla-board-members-resign-over-choice-of-new-ceo/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last1=Newton |first1=Casey |title=Outfoxed: how protests forced Mozilla's CEO to resign in 11 days |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/3/5579516/outfoxed-how-protests-forced-mozillas-ceo-to-resign-in-11-days |website=The Verge |access-date=25 May 2020 |language=en |date=3 April 2014}}{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Susana|title=Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich Resigns After Protests from Gay Marriage Supporters|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/mozilla-ceo-resigns-calif-gay-marriage-ban-campaign/story?id=23181711|access-date=April 3, 2014|newspaper=ABC News|date=April 3, 2014}}
= Other board positions =
Siminoff has been on the board of directors for Journal Media Group,{{cite press release |title=Journal Communications, Inc. Elects Ellen Siminoff to Board of Directors |date=February 14, 2007 |publisher=Business Wire}} U.S. Auto Parts,{{cite web|first=Ellen F. |last=Siminoff |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=210452&privcapId=4597614&previousCapId=4597614&previousTitle=U.S.%20Auto%20Parts%20Network,%20Inc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519191554/http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=210452&privcapId=4597614&previousCapId=4597614&previousTitle=U.S.%20Auto%20Parts%20Network,%20Inc |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |title=Ellen Siminoff: Executive Profile & Biography |work=BusinessWeek |access-date=2013-10-07}} Mozilla Corporation, SolarWinds, Discovery Education and Zynga.{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/abigail-tracy/zynga-adds-ellen-siminoff-to-board-of-directors.html|title=Zynga adds Ellen Siminoff to Board of Directors|first=Abigail|last=Tracy|publisher=Inc|date=2012-07-20|access-date=2016-11-29}}{{cite web|url=http://company.zynga.com/news/press-releases/zynga-appoints-ellen-siminoff-board-directors |title=Zynga Appoints Ellen Siminoff to Board of Directors |publisher=Zynga |date=2012-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624043938/http://company.zynga.com/news/press-releases/zynga-appoints-ellen-siminoff-board-directors |archive-date=2013-06-24}}{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Will |title=SolarWinds' board transformed in wake of private equity buyout |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/techflash/2016/02/solarwinds-board-transformed-in-wake-of-private.html |website=Austin Business Journal |access-date=27 May 2020 |quote=Former board members who are no longer directors include: [...] Ellen Siminoff, president and CEO of California educational website Shmoop University}}
She serves as executive chairman of BigCommerce (BIGC) and Verifone, a global payments platform, Follett Software{{cite web |title=The Jewish Graduate Student Initiative |url=https://www.gojgo.org/jel-speakers/ellen-siminoff |website=www.gojgo.org}} and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO).{{cite web |title=Corporate Governance Highlights {{!}} Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. |url=https://www.take2games.com/ir/corporate-governance-highlights |website=www.take2games.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. - |url=https://ir.take2games.com/node/?mobile=1&page=9 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=ir.take2games.com |language=en}} She has also been involved with Stanford University's Graduate School of Business Advisory Board,{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=Ellen Siminoff: "Learn How to Sell" |url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/ellen-siminoff-learn-how-sell |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Stanford Graduate School of Business |language=en}} Princeton University's President's Advisory Council,{{Cite web |title=Ellen Siminoff, '89 |url=https://entrepreneurs.princeton.edu/people/ellen-siminoff-89 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=New Ventures |language=en}} and Stanford's Hoover Institution Board of Overseers.{{cite web |title=ellen siminoff |url=https://www.hoover.org/about/who-we-are/overseers |website=Hoover Institution |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Siminoff, Ellen}}
Category:American computer businesspeople
Category:American technology chief executives
Category:American technology company founders
Category:American women company founders
Category:American company founders
Category:American women chief executives
Category:Businesspeople from Milwaukee
Category:Princeton University alumni
Category:Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni
Category:People from Los Altos Hills, California