Jason Kothari

Born in Hong Kong, Kothari spent his early childhood and teenage years there. At 15 years old, he had his first job at Media Asia Films in Hong Kong where he was an assistant to actor Jackie Chan.{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/did-you-know-that-ex-housing-com-ceo-jason-kothari-worked-as-jackie-chans-assistant/articleshow/57307427.cms|title=Jason Kothari –Assistant to actor Jackie Chan|last=|first=|date=|website=Economic Times|publisher=|access-date=}}

Kothari moved to the U.S. to pursue further education. While a college student at The Wharton School, Kothari acquired the bankrupt superhero entertainment company – Valiant Entertainment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneurindia.com/jason-kothari.php|title=Co-founder and CEO of Valiant Entertainment|last=|first=|date=|website=Entrepreneur India|publisher=|access-date=}} The company became the third largest superhero entertainment company after Marvel and DC Comics,{{Cite web|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/valiant-entertainment-is-jumping-from-comics-to-movies-and-tv-2019-9-1028534057|title=Valiant Entertainment, third largest superhero entertainment company|last=|first=|date=|website=Business Insider|publisher=|access-date=}} was named Publisher of the Year and went on to sign a five-movie partnership with Sony Pictures. Valiant Entertainment was later sold for $100 million to Hollywood and China-based DMG Entertainment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/valiant-comics-dmg-entertainment/|title=Acquired by Entertainment Company DMG|last=|first=|date=29 January 2018|website=CBR|publisher=|access-date=}}

Kothari moved to India in 2015, becoming the CEO of Housing.com, a Softbank-backed online real estate company. At Housing.com, he led the turnaround of the company by enabling 400% growth in revenue and 70% reduction{{Cite web|url= https://www.livemint.com/Companies/qiCNTAkoga0l6vGcocE90O/Housingcom-returns-to-rentals-business.html|title=Change in business strategy|last=|first=|date=|website=Live Mint|publisher=|access-date=}} in costs. Kothari led the merger of Housing.com with News Corp's PropTiger{{Cite web|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/money/proptiger-housing-makaan-com-jason-kothari/articleshow/58277011.cms|title= Merger of Housing.com and PropTiger |last=|first=|date=20 April 2017|website=Economic Times|publisher=|access-date=}} to create the US$350 million industry leader.{{Cite web|url= https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/jason-kothari-reveals-mantra-of-turnaround-success-in-book-120022700644_1.html|title= Jason Kothari's Mantra for Turnaround Success|last=|first=|date=|website=Business Standard|publisher=|access-date=}}

Subsequently, he joined another Softbank–backed company Snapdeal{{Cite web|url= https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/snapdeal-appoints-jason-kothari-as-chief-strategy-and-investment-officer/504043/|title=Snapdeal appoints Jason Kothari as the Chief Strategy & Investment Officer |last=|first=|date=|website=Financial Express|publisher=|access-date=}} as the Chief Strategy & Investment Officer. He was instrumental in transforming the company from a monthly loss of over US$20 million to a profit{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/snapdeal-appoints-jason-kothari-as-chief-strategy-and-investment-officer/504043/|title=Transformation from loss to profits |last=|first=|date=|website=Business Standard|publisher=|access-date=}} with his “Snapdeal 2.0” {{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/infibeam-to-buy-snapdeals-unicommerce-for-rs-120-cr/article23801654.ece|title=Jason Kothari's "Snapdeal 2.0" Strategy and Plan|last=|first=|date=7 May 2018|website=Hindu Businessline|publisher=|access-date=}} strategy and plan.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ex-housing-ceo-in-fray-for-wework-top-job/articleshow/72079509.cms|title=Creation of Snapdeal 2.0|last=|first=|date=16 November 2019|website=Times of India|publisher=|access-date=}}

During his time at Snapdeal, Kothari was also the CEO of distressed digital payments company, FreeCharge. Kothari led the sale of FreeCharge for $60 million to Axis Bank.{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/freecharge-sold-to-axis-for-60-million-117072601695_1.html|title=Freecharge Sold to Axis Bank|last=|first=|date=|website=Business Standard|publisher=|access-date=}}

Currently, Kothari is on the Board of Directors of Emaar India,{{Cite web|url=https://trendlyne.com/posts/1172676/emaar-india-appoints-snapdeal-s-jason-kothari-as-independent-director|title=Board of Director or Emaar India|last=|first=|date=|website=Trendlyne|publisher=|access-date=}} a subsidiary of Dubai-based Emaar Properties, known for developing the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.{{Cite web|url=https://www.emaar.com/en/our-communities/downtown-dubai/burj-khalifa|title=Emaar India, a subsidiary of Dubai based Emaar Proparties|last=|first=|date=|website=Emaar|publisher=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url= https://gulfnews.com/photos/news/burj-khalifa-the-worlds-tallest-building-stands-magnificent-10-years-on-1.1577710485672|title=Jason Kothari – Turnaround Specialist|last=|first=|date=5 January 2020|website=Gulf News|publisher=|access-date=}} Additionally, he has also been a senior advisor to many companies including Softbank,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ex-housing-ceo-jason-kothari-fray-wework-ceo-112543|title=Jason Kothari – Senior Advisor|last=|first=|date=19 November 2019|website=The News Minute|publisher=|access-date=}} and Noon.com, a Middle East e-commerce company.

In 2019, there were media reports that stated Jason was among the candidates shortlisted by SoftBank for the global CEO position of WeWork, the American office-sharing company.{{Cite web|url=https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/ex-housing-ceo-in-fray-for-wework-top-job/72080398|title=Ex-Housing CEO in fray for WeWork top job|last=|first=|date=|website=Economic Times-Tech|publisher=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ex-housing-ceo-jason-kothari-fray-wework-ceo-112543|title=Jason Kothari in the race for WeWork top job|last=|first=|date=19 November 2019|website=The News Minute|publisher=|access-date=}}

Sony Pictures released the movie ‘Bloodshot’ starring Vin Diesel,{{Cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/112763/vin-diesel-officially-confirmed-bloodshot/|title= Vin Diesel officially confirmed for Bloodshot|last=|first=|date=9 March 2018|website=Looper|publisher=|access-date=}} where Kothari is an Executive Producer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/112763/vin-diesel-officially-confirmed-bloodshot/|title= Jason Kothari and Dinesh Shamdasani on board as executive producers|last=|first=|date=9 March 2018|website=Looper|publisher=|access-date=}} worldwide on March 13, 2020. Kothari imagined the story of the Valiant comic book ‘Bloodshot’ as a movie at the age of 12 and years later worked on bringing it to the big screen, including landing the movie deal with Sony Pictures.{{Cite web|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/a-dream-come-true-a-elated-jason-kothari-talks-about-bringing-his-favourite-superhero-to-life/articleshow/71815455.cms|title=Jason Kothari talks about bringing his favourite superhero to life|date=31 October 2019|website=Economic Times|publisher=|access-date= |last1=Alves |first1=Glynda }}

In 2020, HarperCollins published ‘Irrationally Passionate: My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur’ authored by Kothari.{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jason-kothari-reveals-mantra-of-turnaround-success-in-book/1745796|title=Jason Kothari reveals mantra of turnaround success in book|last=|first=|date=|website=Outlook India|publisher=|access-date=}} Irrationally Passionate is an entrepreneurial memoir that shares his turnaround story and learnings across geographies, industries and companies. The book has garnered 4.42/5 star rating on GoodReads,{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51713184-irrationally-passionate|title= Irrationally Passionate: My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur|last=|first=|date=|website=Good Reads|publisher=|access-date=}} 4.4/5 on Amazon India{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.in/Irrationally-Passionate-Turnaround-Rebel-Entrepreneur-ebook/dp/B08431V51G |title=Amazon - Irrationally Passionate: My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur|last=|first=|date=|website=Amazon|publisher=|access-date=}} and was a critically acclaimed memoir that debuted in the top five books in India.{{Cite web|url=https://travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com/speakeasy/author/2537/jason-kothari|title=Irrationally Passionate: My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur|last=|first=|date=|website=Economic Times|publisher=|access-date=}}

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Category:Wharton School alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people