Michael Kassan#MediaLink

After receiving his BA from UCLA,{{Cite web|url = http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/fifth-estate/ultimate-mobilizer-kassan-finds-more-success/110871|title = Ultimate Mobilizer Kassan Finds More Success|date = March 2010|accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} JD from Southwestern Law School{{Cite web|url = http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Licensee/Detail/68193 |title = State Bar Profile| date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} and LLM-Taxation from NYU, Kassan began his career as a tax lawyer in the entertainment industry where he practiced for over 10 years.{{Cite web|url = http://digiday.com/platforms/michael-kassan/|title = Meet Michael Kassan, Ad Land's Connector|date = 7 November 2013|accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

Kassan is married to Ronnie and has three children, Alex, Brett and Adam.{{Cite web|url = https://variety.com/2008/voices/columns/whatta-wedding-427/|title = Whatta Wedding|date = May 12, 2008|accessdate = |website = |publisher = Variety|last = Archerd|first = Amy}}

After several entrepreneurial ventures, Kassan become the largest franchisee of El Pollo Loco and Rally’s Hamburgers in Southern California, Northern California, and Nevada.{{Cite web|url = http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/17124/|title = Meet Michael Kassan, Ad Land's Connector|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

In 1986, Kassan entered the entertainment business as the President and COO of International Video Entertainment, a home video company which now comprises a large portion of Lionsgate.{{Cite web|url = http://www.theadvertisingclub.org/content/michael-kassan?ctype=46|title = Highlighted Speakers|date = 11 December 2022|accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

In 1994, Kassan joined Initiative Media Worldwide as President/COO and Vice-Chairman.{{Cite web|url = http://www.clearchannel.com/Pages/Michael-Kassan-Expands-His-Advisory-Role-With-Clear-Channel.aspx|title = Michael Kassan Expands His Advisory Role With Clear Channel|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} In that role, Kassan emphasized strategic management of diversified portfolios and helped grow media billings from $1.5 billion to over $10 billion.{{Cite web|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-31-fi-59227-story.html|title = Advertising Space on Bananas? Why Not?|date = 31 December 1998|access-date = |website = Los Angeles Times|publisher = |last = |first = }}

In 1997, he was named one of the top media executives in America by Advertising Age Magazine.{{Cite web|url = http://wfoa.wharton.upenn.edu/gab/kassan-michael/|title = Wharton School|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

In 2019, Kassan was inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Fame,{{Cite web|title=Advertising Hall of Fame Home {{!}} AAF|url=https://www.aaf.org/Public/Events/Advertising-Hall-of-Fame/AHOF_Home.aspx?WebsiteKey=4a2b61a4-ccf6-4069-b7fb-9bea5afaf2f1|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.aaf.org|language=en}} which is considered the highest honor in advertising. In 2018 was honored on Adweek’s “Power 100” {{Cite web|title=Adweek's 2018 Power List: 100 Cutting-Edge CEOs in Marketing, Media, Branding and Tech|url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/the-power-list-2/|access-date=2021-08-04|language=en-US}} list and on Variety’s index of the 500{{Cite web|last=viapiuser|date=2018-08-23|title=Michael Kassan|url=https://variety.com/exec/michael-kassan-2/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Variety|language=en}} most influential business leaders shaping the global entertainment industry. Michael has also been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Silicon Beach 25” [32] list of the most powerful digital players in L.A.

Kassan founded MediaLink in 2003 as advertising, marketing, content, sales, service and commerce become more closely linked through technology.{{Cite web|url = https://online.wsj.com/articles/newspapers-press-on-on-their-own-1407281083|title = Newspapers Press On, On Their Own|date = August 5, 2014|accessdate = |website = |publisher = The Wall Street Journal|last = Hagey|first = Keach}} In 2017, Ascential plc acquired MediaLink in a deal valued at up to $207 million, expanding the company’s purview to a global stage.{{Cite web|date=2017-02-08|title=The Master Plan Behind Ascential's Acquisition of MediaLink|url=https://adage.com/article/agency-news/q-a-a-deeper-ascential-s-acquisition-medialink/307900|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Ad Age|language=en}} It has over 125 operators working out of offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and London. The company now offers agency reviews, executive search, talent advisory, data and technology solutions, corporate and brand transformation, trade marketing and financial due diligence. In 2021, MediaLink was acquired by United Talent Agency, bringing together MediaLink’s strategic advisory services with one of the world’s largest talent agencies.{{cite news| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-talent-agency-acquires-medialink-for-125-million-11639638601| title = United Talent Agency Acquires MediaLink for $125 Million - WSJ| newspaper = Wall Street Journal| date = 16 December 2021| last1 = Vranica| first1 = Suzanne}} Kassan and UTA parted ways in March of 2024.{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2024-03-13 |title=UTA Accused of Fraud, Breach of Contract by MediaLink CEO Michael Kassan (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/uta-fraud-breach-of-contract-medialink-michael-kassan-1235940093/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Michael hosts the podcast, “Good Company with Michael Kassan.” That show is produced by Kassan and the iHeartRadio Podcast Networks, and is distributed via the iHeartRadio App, Apple’s podcasts app and multiple other outlets.{{Cite web|title=Good Company with Michael Kassan|url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-good-company-with-michael-62503852/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=iHeartRadio|language=en}}

Kassan is a keynote speaker, moderator and blogger.{{Cite web|url = http://www.radioink.com/article.asp?id=2845277&spid=24698|title = What is the only advertising that works?|date=October 2, 2014|accessdate = |website = Radio Ink|last = |first = }}{{Cite web|url = https://twitter.com/MKassan|title = Twitter|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = Twitter|last = |first = }}

His blog post highlighting measurement in media mix modeling prompted the radio industry to take out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal.{{Cite web|url = http://www.mediabizbloggers.com/michael-kassan|title = Media Link-ed|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

Kassan has appeared as an industry expert in Forbes,{{Cite web|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2014/04/01/with-disney-buying-maker-do-all-big-media-companies-need-to-up-their-youtube-game/|title = With Disney Buying Maker, Do All Big Media Companies Need To Up Their YouTube Game?|date = April 1, 2014|accessdate = |work = Forbes|last = Pomerantz|first = Dorothy}} The Wall Street Journal,{{Cite web|url = https://online.wsj.com/articles/digital-media-to-take-center-stage-at-advertising-week-1411933781|title = Digital Media to Take Center Stage at Advertising Week|date = September 28, 2014|accessdate = |website = The Wall Street Journal|last = Vranica|first = Suzanne}} Ad Week,{{Cite web|url = http://www.adweek.com/sa-article/creating-change-cannes-158143|title = Creating Change in Cannes Even in Today's High-Tech World, Innovation Requires a Human Touch|date = June 9, 2014|accessdate = |website = Ad Week|last = |first = }} Ad Age,{{Cite web|url = http://adage.com/article/digital/maker-studios-omnicom-sign-figure-upfront-deal/293045/|title = Maker Studios, Omnicom Sign Eight-Figure Upfront Deal for Web Video|date = 6 May 2014|accessdate = |website = Advertising Age|last = Peterson|first = Tim}} The New York Times,{{Cite web|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/business/media/accounts-and-people-of-note-in-the-advertising-industry.html?pagewanted=all|title = Accounts and People of Note in the Advertising Industry|date = November 11, 2013|accessdate = |work = The New York Times|last = |first = }}{{Cite web|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/08/technology/2-companies-in-web-video-are-expected-to-merge.html|title = 2 Companies in Web Video Are Expected to Merge|date = September 9, 2013|accessdate = |work = The New York Times|last = Kaufman|first = Leslie}} and the Los Angeles Times.{{Cite web|url = https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-jan-24-la-fi-ct-machinima-20120124-story.html|title = YouTube video-game channel Machinima aims for the next level|date = January 24, 2012|access-date = |work = Los Angeles Times|last = Chmielewski|first = Dawn}}

He served as a Special Adviser to Buddy Media{{Cite web|url = http://adage.com/article/digital/buddy-media-raises-54-million-business-embraces-social/229259/|title = Buddy Media Raises $54 Million as Business Embraces Social|date = August 15, 2011|accessdate = |website = |publisher = Advertising Age|last = Lee|first = Edmund}} through its ultimate acquisition by Salesforce.com.{{Cite web|url = https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303830204577446183312832146|title = Salesforce to Acquire Buddy Media for as Much as $745 Million|date = June 4, 2012|accessdate = |website = |publisher = The Wall Street Journal|last = Fitzgerald|first = Drew}} In addition he has served as a special advisor and/or investor for a long list of media and technology startups, including Vidmob,{{Cite web|date=2021-02-23|title=VidMob Raises $50 Million Series C to Accelerate Broad Adoption of its Platform for Intelligent ...|url=https://apnews.com/press-release/globe-newswire/technology-business-marketing-and-advertising-corporate-news-products-and-services-1df0c0ceae23f6a4920d0d7bd4eeefb9|access-date=2021-08-04|website=AP NEWS|language=en}} Boostr,{{Cite press release|last=boostr|title=boostr Secures $7 Million in Series A Funding|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boostr-secures-7-million-in-series-a-funding-301100893.html|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}} Mass Appeal,{{Cite press release|last=Appeal|first=Mass|title=Universal Music Group Leads New Funding Round for Mass Appeal|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-music-group-leads-new-funding-round-for-mass-appeal-300418558.html|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}} Wonderly{{Cite web|date=2018-03-29|title=Wondery Raises $5M in Series A Funding|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180329005824/en/Wondery-Raises-5M-in-Series-A-Funding|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}} and Encatos{{Cite web|date=2020-01-27|title=Award-winning Entertainment Education Company Encantos Raises $2 Million in Oversubscribed Seed Round to Accelerate Growth|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200127005145/en/Award-winning-Entertainment-Education-Company-Encantos-Raises-2-Million-in-Oversubscribed-Seed-Round-to-Accelerate-Growth|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}

Kassan serves as Chair of the UJA-New York Marketing Communications Committee,{{Cite web|url = http://www.ujafedny.org/marketing-communications-division/|title = Marketing Communications Division|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = UJA Federation of New York|last = |first = }} Co-Chair of the Advertising Hall of Achievement, on the Board of the National Association of Television Program Executives,{{Cite web|url = https://www.natpe.com/contact/board|title = Board of Directors|date = |accessdate = |website = natpe|publisher = |last = |first = }} the Global Advisory Board of the Wharton Future of Advertising Program,{{Cite web|url = http://wfoa.wharton.upenn.edu/gab/kassan-michael/|title = Michael Kassan|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = Wharton University of Pennsylvania|last = |first = }} and a Director on the Board of the Ad Council.{{Cite web|url = http://www.adcouncil.org/About-Us/Leadership/Board-of-Directors|title = Board of Directors|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = Ad Council|last = |first = }}

Kassan sits on the board of the San Diego Zoo{{Cite web|url = http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/content/foundation-board|title = Foundation Board|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = San Diego Zoo|last = |first = }} and previously served as Chairman of the California State Senate Select Committee on the Entertainment Industry.{{Cite web|url = http://www.clearchannel.com/Pages/Michael-Kassan-Expands-His-Advisory-Role-With-Clear-Channel.aspx|title = Michael Kassan Expands His Advisory Role With Clear Channel|date = September 19, 2013|accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} He has been actively involved with the H.E.L.P. Group, a non-profit organization serving children with special needs, and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program of Los Angeles.

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Category:American businesspeople

Category:Living people

Category:1950 births