Lew Jaffe is a proven CEO and entrepreneur with success creating value by focusing on the concept that all businesses are the same — they exist for the sole purpose of “gaining and retaining customers, profitably, in order to create real value.” During his 30+ year career, in addition to the companies he founded following that simple mantra, Lew has led the growth and/or successful turnarounds of more than 20 under-performing companies across all industries, both public and private, as their chief executive or outside advisor, creating over $1B in shareholder value.
Lew’s greatest strengths include leadership, vision, and building plans that teams can execute with great success. He is a customer-focused leader that understands complex market dynamics, the intricacies of distribution channels, and maximizing corporate assets, including human capital and leveraging a balance sheet. Lew’s focus is on business-to-business companies, but he also has experience with B2C. Much of his concentration has been in telecommunications, manufacturing, media/content delivery, as well as retail and distribution/supply chain of B2B and B2C products. He also has significant experience with M&A activity and post-transaction integration.
Business Highlights:
- Lew’s career includes serving as a CEO and Founder/Co-founder of numerous companies, including MoviMe Network, the world’s first ultra-fast download service of Hollywood content.
- Before that, Lew was the Chief Executive of Oxford Media Inc. (OXMI: NASDAQ), a $500M revenue company and the second-largest Video on Demand and High-Speed Internet Access Company in the world.
- He was the President and COO of Verso Technologies (VRSO: NASDAQ) where he integrated numerous acquisitions that were made prior to his tenure while creating product bundles with in-house technology as well as developing strategic partnerships with other technology providers.
- As the CEO of PictureTel Corporation (PCTL: NASDAQ), a $750M revenue video conferencing company that he sold in 2001, he developed video compression and communications technologies. He built the business from the ground up including its distribution channels, engineering team, sales force, and administration.
Currently, in addition to his coaching responsibilities, Lew is a Clinical Professor and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Loyola Marymount University in the Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship Management where he won “Professor of the Year” in 2016. He teaches both undergraduates and MBA candidates. In 2018, he published “The One Day MBA,” which is an Amazon Best Seller.
Lew has been a guest on a number of business shows for CNBC, MSNBC, and ABC, and has been quoted in a variety of business and trade publications including Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Business Week, and The Boston Globe. He is a sought-after public speaker on the topics of “Migrating from Management to Leadership,” “Sales is Everything, Stop Selling and Create Buyers,” and “The Future of Video Collaboration and Digital Meeting Tools.” Lew serves on the boards of Reeds Inc. (REED: NASDAQ), Fit Life Brands (FTLF: OTCBB), and is the lead independent director for York Telecom. Formerly, he was the lead independent director of Benihana Inc. (BNHN: NASDAQ) prior to it being taken private.
Lew attended the University of Pennsylvania, LaSalle University as an undergrad, and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Lew also holds his Master’s Certification of Public Company Board of Directors from the American College of Public Company Directors. Lew is a YPO resource as well as a former member of the YPO New England Chapter, currently the YPOG Santa Monica Bay Chapter.
When not working, Lew is a proud father and grandfather, and loves to sail and play golf.
Featured Podcast:
Listen to Lew Jaffe’s podcast episode – How to Align 4 Generations of Workers to One BIG Vision