Biography
Jed Simmons is EVP, Business and Corporate Development and a Co-Founder of Next New Networks, the leading online television company. Jed oversees business and corporate development, distribution and strategic partnerships.
Jed has more than 20 years of experience in media, entertainment and consumer product businesses. His broad experience includes launching and managing start-ups, international expansion of US based businesses, acquisitions, and operating established businesses and turnarounds. Mr. Simmons has worked with some of the most recognizable companies, entrepreneurs and brands in the United States and abroad.
As one of the Co-Founder's and original Chief Operating Officer of Next New Networks, he spearheaded the companies start-up including raising more than $20 million, its distribution and sales partnerships with key video portals including YouTube, Yahoo, iTunes and Hulu, and launching the company's sales efforts.
Today, Next New Networks is the leading independent producer and syndicator of online television networks. Since its inception in January 2007, the company has launched sixteen networks, and its programming has been viewed more than 600 million times and become one of the largest programming partners to YouTube.
Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer of the Sundance Group. Based in Sundance, Utah and New York City, Sundance is a group of companies founded and owned by Robert Redford including the Sundance Catalog, Sundance Village, Sundance Channel, Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival.
Before joining Sundance, Mr. Simmons lived and worked in London for seven years. There, he helped launch a number of start-up internet and digital media companies including Excite, Inc, Sportal, Confetti, and eos Ventures (a London based early stage fund). Additionally, he worked closely with the Venture Capital and Private Equity community.
At 31 years old, Mr. Simmons became the Chief Operating Officer of Los Angeles based Hanna-Barbera, which was newly acquired by Turner Broadcasting. During his time at the legendary cartoon studio, the company created a number of hits, including the Power Puff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Jonny Bravo. At Turner, Simmons was also involved in the launch of the Cartoon Network and TNT Latin America.
Mr. Simmons started his career in sports television with ABC Sports as a member of the 1984 Olympic Unit and has worked three Olympics (Sarajevo, Los Angeles and Seoul). He has served on several boards, including the Tate Gallery of London advisory board, and the Sundance Catalog and Sundance Channel boards. He recently served on the board of NASN, the only TV Channel in Europe dedicated to North American Sport. NASN, a partnership between Benchmark and Setanta, was recently acquired by ESPN.
A graduate of Duke University, Mr. Simmons received his master’s degree from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.