TEAM
Square ANDY RUSSELL   CEO, TRIGGER MEDIA, CHAIRMAN, HOST COMMITTEE, CEO, INSIDEHOOK
Andy Russell In addition to founding Trigger Media in 2011, InsideHook in 2012 and Host Committee in 2012, Andy Russell is an initial member and a partner of Pilot Group, launched in 2003 by Bob Pittman. Andy serves as CEO at Trigger Media, CEO at InsideHook and Chairman of Host Committee. At Pilot Group, Andy’s responsibilities are focused on digital media investing. Through Pilot Group and other investment vehicles, Andy has been involved with over 50 tech investments including DailyCandy, Thrillist, TastingTable, Ideal Bite, PureWow, Nerdist (formerly GeekChicDaily), Zynga, Betaworks, Business Insider, Moveable Ink, Silicon Alley Insider, SailThru, RapLeaf, Room77, Huddler, Spongecell, LiveRamp, HomeRun, Greatist, AdRoll and Bounce Exchange.

Prior to Pilot Group, Andy was the youngest Partner at East River Ventures at age 28, where he focused on the Digital Media investment practice from 1999 to 2003. At the age of 26, Andy co-founded the world-renowned restaurant/nightclub MOOMBA, called “the hottest new restaurant in the universe” by New York Magazine in 1997, which he sold in 1999.

Andy began his professional career in 1993 as an investment banking analyst and later associate at Chemical Bank (JP Morgan Chase), in the acquisition finance group, financing LBO’s under Jimmy Lee. He received his BA from Cornell University in 1993, and his MBA from Columbia University Business School in 1999.

Andy currently serves on the board of directors of TastingTable, PureWow, DailySecret (now Savoteur), and Treat House. He is also a Digital Media Strategic Advisor to Condé Nast and Advisor to Ground Signal and IfOnly. Andy also serves as Chairman to the New York chapter of BUILD, a board member of The Mount Sinai Child Behavioral Health and Science Center and a board member of DMA (Direct Marketing Association). Andy previously served as a board member of Thrillist, DailyCandy, DailyWorth, Barrington Broadcasting, Double-O Radio, OTX, NAMG (now Scout Media), Ideal Bite and American Media.


Square VANESSA LIU   COO
Vanessa Liu Vanessa has over a decade of experience in media and entertainment in the US and Europe. Prior to joining Trigger Media, Vanessa was an Associate Principal in McKinsey & Company's Global Media, Entertainment and Information Services Practice and was based in Amsterdam, London and New York. In this role, Vanessa was responsible for serving clients in a variety of media and high tech sectors including online advertising, magazine and newspaper publishing, television, video content production, and information services, particularly on issues of digital media strategy, emerging market strategy, growth and innovation.

Vanessa graduated magna cum laude with an AB in behavioral neuroscience from Harvard University and cum laude with a JD from Harvard Law School. She was a Fulbright Scholar at Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands where she conducted independent research on the International War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice. She has also been a negotiations and conflict resolution instructor for the Harvard Program on Negotiation, and is admitted to the New York State bar.


Square JEANNE FAGET STEPHENS   CHIEF OF STAFF
Jeanne Faget Stephens Before joining Trigger Media, Jeanne supported Andy Russell as Executive Assistant at Pilot Group for six years, tasked with operating a variety of digital and technology management and administrative services.

An award-winning photographer, Jeanne's entrepreneurial background began as a wedding and portraiture photographer. She also acted as studio manager in a variety of settings, assisting with still life, high-end advertising, fashion, and book publishing for renowned fine art photographers.

Jeanne received her BFA from University of Colorado at Boulder, and also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, the Instituto Allende and the Naropa Institute. She received a First Place International Award from the Polaroid Corporation in 2001.


Square JONATHAN KEIDAN   VENTURE ADVISOR
Jonathan Keidan Jonathan has spent his career in the media, entertainment and technology industries. Prior to joining Trigger Media, Jonathan was the COO of the Jack Welch Management Institute (JWMI), the premium online MBA program founded by the former General Electric CEO. Jonathan was also the SVP of Business Development and Operations at Mendeley, the world's largest online research collaboration platform, where he launched their US operations.

Jonathan started his career in the entertainment business, where he founded a music talent management company which he ran for 8 years. After that, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Company where he served media and entertainment clients in the areas of digital strategy and consumer engagement.

Jonathan has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Washington University in St. Louis, where he graduated Cum Laude. He is a founding Board Member of the Bronx Success Academy and Co-Trustee of the George Gershwin Family Trust. He is also a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.


Square ALY RACER   VENTURE ADVISOR
Aly Racer Aly Racer is a seasoned digital media executive having more than 18 years of strategy, revenue development and management experience. She is CEO of InsideHook, the premier lifestyle media brand for affluent, established men. She is also the founder of memmee, a unique digital platform where members are motivated to record, share and relive small moments.

Prior to Trigger Media, Aly was President of Penske Media Corporation leading strategy and revenue development for leading entertainment brands and a red carpet event portfolio, Chief Advertising Officer for Newsweek, and VP Sales for DailyCandy where she led revenue development, strategy and led the team through Comcast's acquisition in September 2008.

Before Before joining DailyCandy, Aly was Vice President, Advertising, for The New York Times. She was responsible for managing The Times's digital advertising, operations and marketing. Prior to this role, Aly held various sales and marketing management positions since joining NYTimes.com in 1997. From 1995 until 1997, she worked in sales and planning at MacFadden Trade Publishing.



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