Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Alok Gurtu

General Management Professional
Bengaluru,KA

Summary

Self-motivated professional with over two decades of experience in crafting consumer-centric strategies for leading media brands, products, and platforms. I have successfully seized opportunities for expansion and innovation, driving revenue growth at renowned companies like Verizon Media and AOL. My expertise spans business development, product design, and strategic partnerships, with a proven track record of increasing profits, reducing costs, and transforming customer service standards.

I have led and supervised operational and sales teams, consistently identifying market trends to optimize sales strategies and engage audiences effectively. My passion for purposeful work and forward-thinking approach have been pivotal in my success.

One notable achievement was leading a project at Verizon Media that resulted in a 300% increase in specific audience segments and an 18% increase in revenue. This was achieved through innovative product launch and strategic partnerships.

I am keen to transition my wealth of experience into a strategic role, where I can marry the ethos of Ikigai with the avant-garde frameworks of Free Agent Nation and the Anti-CEO playbook, to drive transformative growth and deliver substantial value.

Overview

22
years of professional experience
10
years of post-secondary education

Work History

ABG Ventures/ VeritasX
Bengaluru, Karnataka

Founding Partner
10.2020 - Current

Job overview

  • Reviewed over 120+ business pitches across various verticals
  • Closed 6 investments across ESG Education, Health Care, Consumer and Fin-tech
  • 2 of the 6 investments are now heading toward their next round of investments (Pre-Series A)
  • Secured valuable contracts through effective negotiation tactics, fostering long-term relationships with key clients.
  • Evaluated and improved the firm''s overall performance by consistently analyzing key performance indicators, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing targeted solutions.
  • Mentored startup founding team members, cultivating their skills and fostering professional development within the company culture.
  • Implemented data-driven decision-making processes, optimizing business strategies for better results.

Verizon Media

Country Manager & Director - Audience Growth, Media and Sales Solutions
01.2018 - 03.2020

Job overview

  • Responsible for developing, implementing consumer-focused media, product, Sales solution strategies and P&L for Yahoo! India, HuffPost, MAKERS India, and other brands within the Verizon Media Group
  • As board member, was responsible for overseeing the governance of organization, shaping the organization’s culture and vision, and corporate social responsibilities.
  • Managed budgets, financial planning, and forecasting to optimize profitability for the country operations.
  • Established strong relationships with key industry players for business growth and expansion.
  • Increased market share by developing and implementing effective sales strategies. Generated 300% growth in specific user segments.
  • Implemented process improvements, streamlining workflows and increasing team productivity. Managed cross-functional teams to ensure seamless operations and drive business objectives.

AOL

Sr Manager - Partnerships & Strategy
01.2014 - 01.2018

Job overview

  • Established strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
  • Implemented and developed operational standards, policies and procedures.
  • Negotiated and secured profitable partnerships with Publishers, Content Creators and Video Aggregators across APAC, resulting in 18% YoY increased revenue
  • Developed a comprehensive strategy that optimised ad spend and reduced overall costs by 1/3rd

AOL APAC NEW Markets

Manager - Sales Strategy
01.2010 - 01.2014

Job overview

  • Assisted in over 30 Media destinations and product launches across 8 countries in Asia Pacific building a $4 M ARR business
  • New market entry, Launch Management with ownership of Design, Project Management, Engineering and Business Development deliverables across Asia Pacific.
  • Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
  • Monitored and analyzed business performance to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments.
  • Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.

AOL

Associate Manager - Sales Strategy
01.2009 - 01.2010

Job overview

  • Developed and implemented a system for tracking and measuring KPIs, allowing for better decision-making
  • Implemented a new operational workflow that increased efficiency by monetizing over 1B monthly impressions that were initially unsold across APAC.
  • Initiated process improvements based on thorough analysis of internal operations data resulting in enhanced productivity levels.
  • Led team meetings regularly to discuss progress updates, identify challenges or roadblocks, and provide guidance towards successful project completion.
  • Managed cross-functional projects, ensuring timely completion and alignment with company objectives.

AOL Search & Directional Media

Sr Analyst – AOL Search
01.2003 - 01.2008

Job overview

  • Played a pivotal role in the successful completion of high-stakes projects by providing crucial analytical support and insights that led to an increase in search revenue yields by over $2M MRR through increased query coverage via miss-spellings and related keywords.
  • Optimized search results, resulting in a 4X increase in query coverage while maintaining a relevance score of 90%
  • Enhanced team productivity by streamlining workflow processes and implementing time-saving strategies.
  • Mentored junior analysts, fostering professional development while enhancing overall team performance.
  • Provided expert advice for senior management, contributing to informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Education

Harvard Business School
Boston

Senior Executive Leadership Program
08.2019 - 12.2024

University Overview

Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology - SMU
Bengaluru, India

MBA from Information Technology
07.2007 - 07.2009

University Overview

Indira Gandhi National Open University
Bengaluru, India

BIT, Computing & Multimedia
06.1999 - 06.2002

University Overview

Skills

Purpose-Driven Leadership

Languages

English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Hindi
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Kannada
Upper intermediate (B2)

Timeline

Founding Partner
ABG Ventures/ VeritasX
10.2020 - Current
Harvard Business School
Senior Executive Leadership Program
08.2019 - 12.2024
Country Manager & Director - Audience Growth, Media and Sales Solutions
Verizon Media
01.2018 - 03.2020
Sr Manager - Partnerships & Strategy
AOL
01.2014 - 01.2018
Manager - Sales Strategy
AOL APAC NEW Markets
01.2010 - 01.2014
Associate Manager - Sales Strategy
AOL
01.2009 - 01.2010
Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology - SMU
MBA from Information Technology
07.2007 - 07.2009
Sr Analyst – AOL Search
AOL Search & Directional Media
01.2003 - 01.2008
Indira Gandhi National Open University
BIT, Computing & Multimedia
06.1999 - 06.2002
Alok GurtuGeneral Management Professional