Jake Sussman

Senior Product Leader | Entertainment & Digital Platforms
Atlanta, US.

About

Highly accomplished product leader with 15+ years of experience driving innovation and growth at the intersection of content and consumer experiences within the entertainment industry. Proven track record of shipping leading digital products, transforming businesses from 0→1, and optimizing established platforms. Expert in leveraging strategic vision, cross-functional leadership, and data-driven insights to deliver significant user engagement and revenue impact.

Work

Warner Bros. Discovery
|

Senior Director of Platform Product Management

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Led strategic consolidation of global website publishing and services, overseeing a cross-functional product team to enhance operational efficiency and guide multi-million dollar investment decisions.

Highlights

Drove consolidation of 60+ disparate website publishing and services systems across HBO, TNT, DC Comics, and Harry Potter, reducing operational overhead by over 60%.

Led a 7-person cross-functional product team, enhancing strategic involvement with stakeholders and elevating direct reports' contributions.

Defined and managed a 3-year platform roadmap, guiding multi-million dollar investment decisions for vendor services and aligning product vision with revenue and engagement goals.

Scoped and delivered 40+ platform features and components, accelerating time-to-market from 3+ months to under 3 weeks by standardizing requirements.

Improved page performance and SEO for 7 onboarded brand websites, raising Lighthouse scores from 70% to 95%.

TBS/TNT/truTV
|

Senior Director of Product Management

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Oversaw the launch and operation of consumer-facing TV Everywhere (TVE) applications, driving significant year-over-year growth in engagement and pioneering new monetization strategies.

Highlights

Launched and operated consumer-facing TV Everywhere (TVE) apps, mobile games, and interactive fan experiences, achieving sustained double-digit year-over-year growth in engagement KPIs.

Unlocked 15%-25% incremental ad impressions by introducing a Live TV playback feature, expanding audience reach and monetization opportunities.

Introduced sponsorable video playback features that boosted viewership KPIs by 20-40% and generated a 10% increase in revenue.

Increased core segment's Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) by 180% through operational improvements to advertising and piloted innovative interactive ad formats.

Partnered with key platforms including Apple, Amazon, Roku, and Google to maximize content discoverability and promotional impact.

TBS/TNT/truTV
|

Director of Product Management

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Developed and productized scalable fan experiences, enhancing marketing ROI and establishing a comprehensive framework for product development lifecycle.

Highlights

Productized bespoke fan experiences into scalable features, significantly improving marketing ROI through strategic outcomes.

Implemented a robust framework to guide the product team through discovery, design, delivery, and measurement phases.

Surfaced critical business insights through quarterly case studies, analyzing relationships between content library, advertising experience, viewer engagement, and revenue.

TBS/TNT
|

Director of Projects

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Directed a hybrid product/project team, overseeing the launch of iOS, Android, and responsive web applications and pioneering early phases of TV Everywhere websites.

Highlights

Built and led a hybrid product/project team, successfully supporting major iOS, Android, and responsive web application launches.

Project-managed the early phases of the network's original TV Everywhere (TVE) websites, establishing them among the industry's first.

Managed comprehensive show- and product-based projects from initial ideation and strategic planning through post-launch operations and analysis.

Acted as chief product owner, strategically prioritizing the departmental roadmap and optimizing the team's work queue for maximum efficiency.

Established standardized processes and documentation for project management, content planning, and editorial operations, enhancing team productivity.

TBS/TNT
|

Senior Project Manager

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Managed key projects for TBS/TNT, demonstrating strong organizational and leadership skills in media production.

Highlights

Oversaw critical project timelines and deliverables for cross-platform initiatives, ensuring on-time and on-budget execution.

Facilitated seamless communication and collaboration between product, engineering, and creative teams.

Contributed to strategic planning sessions, providing insights to optimize project workflows and resource allocation.

New Products Group
|

Product Manager

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Spearheaded the launch of a new video website and developed content strategies for innovative media prototypes.

Highlights

Launched a video website from inception, achieving 2 million monthly active users (MAUs) and 20 million video views within the first month, earning a Webby Award finalist recognition.

Developed and executed the content strategy for a 3D video prototype, collaborating with industry-leading video game creators.

Managed product lifecycle from concept to launch, ensuring alignment with market needs and business objectives.

Turner South
|

Senior Interactive Manager

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Led the strategic initiative to transform a linear television network into a dynamic digital video destination, collaborating with design teams on innovative prototypes.

Highlights

Spearheaded the digital transformation of Turner South, converting a linear network into a robust digital video destination through strategic planning and design collaboration.

Planned and executed the successful syndication of original video content to a major internet provider's portal site, expanding audience reach.

Collaborated closely with design and engineering teams to develop and implement interactive prototypes.

Turner South
|

Managing Editor

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Established and maintained editorial standards for the website, overseeing content production, scheduling, and digital asset management.

Highlights

Established comprehensive editorial standards for the website, ensuring high-quality content and consistent brand voice.

Produced and scheduled diverse content within the CMS, managing video encoding and digital asset workflows.

Collaborated with on-air talent to conceive and develop exclusive web content, enhancing viewer engagement and platform stickiness.

Moxie Interactive
|

Project Manager

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Managed diverse projects for commerce websites and in-store experiences, ensuring successful delivery and client satisfaction.

Highlights

Oversaw end-to-end project lifecycle for multiple commerce websites, from planning to deployment.

Coordinated cross-functional teams to deliver in-store digital experiences on schedule and within budget.

Managed stakeholder communications and expectations, ensuring project alignment with business objectives.

The Home Depot
|

Internal Communications Consultant

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Consulted on internal communications for corporate initiatives, effectively disseminating information to a vast employee base.

Highlights

Developed and implemented communication strategies for corporate initiatives, reaching thousands of store employees.

Translated complex corporate objectives into clear, actionable communications for diverse internal audiences.

Facilitated two-way communication channels to gather feedback and improve employee engagement.

Citysearch
|

Editor-in-Chief

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Led content strategy and product launch for an online city guide, significantly driving traffic growth.

Highlights

Launched a new online city guide product, driving a 3x increase in traffic through strategic content and user engagement initiatives.

Managed editorial team and content pipeline, ensuring high-quality and relevant information for local audiences.

Collaborated with product and engineering teams to optimize user experience and content discoverability.

360, Inc. (Acquired by WPP)
|

Program Manager

Atlanta, GA, US

Summary

Managed the national rollout of The Home Depot University program, from pilot to widespread implementation.

Highlights

Managed the successful national rollout of The Home Depot University program, scaling from pilot to full implementation.

Coordinated training and development initiatives across multiple locations, ensuring consistent program delivery.

Collaborated with stakeholders to refine program content and logistics, optimizing effectiveness and participant engagement.

Education

Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN, United States of America

Bachelor of Arts

English and Business Administration

Grade: 3.5/4.0

Courses

Magna Cum Laude

Dean's List

Pitched scripts as a development intern for director James Cameron's production company (Santa Monica, CA)

Skills

Tools

Jira, Confluence, Figma, Miro, Airtable, Storybook, AI Tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Lovable, v0).

Technologies

Streaming Media, Ad-Serving (Video, Display), Mobile OS, CTV OS, React Native, CMS (Drupal, AEM, Homegrown), Accessibility, SEO.

Core Skills

Product Vision and Strategy, Product Launch, Roadmapping, Prioritization, Backlog Management, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Stakeholder Alignment, Adaptability, Problem Solving, Attention to Detail, Consumer-Centric Mindset, Goal-Setting and Execution, Process Improvement, Agile Application Development, User Experience (UX), Analytics, Content Strategy.

Interests

Hobbies

Travel, Hiking, Live Music, Reading, Football, Dogs.