Michael Jones (Internet entrepreneur)
Encyclopedia
Michael Jones was named CEO of MySpace
on October 1, 2010. In this role, Mike oversees global business operations for Myspace, Myspace Music and Myspace Mobile. He is also responsible for business development, strategic partnerships and support operations across these platforms.
Jones previously served as the president of Myspace and prior to that the company's co-president along with Jason Hirschhorn
.
Prior to his position at Myspace, Jones was the CEO and founder of Internet company Userplane
and a Senior Vice President of AOL
. Within AOL
, Jones was a Senior Vice President and managed Userplane
within the AIM
division. He coordinated with other AOL
subsidiaries and internal brands to enable distribution of Web applications to publishers under the Userplane
brand.
Jones is also CEO of Tsavo Media which was sold to Cyberplex on May 18, 2010 for $75 million. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to private startups and currently sits on the boards of Docstoc, GumGum, MoVoxx, People Media, and FreeConference.
Jones opened his first Web consulting business during his junior year of college, and eventually migrated his practice into PBJ Digital, a 40-person firm that served an estimated 200 companies, including Sony
and UPN
. After selling PBJ Digital, Jones and his partners, Nate Thelen, Kevin Prentiss, and Javier Hall, formed Userplane
.
Jones has a Bachelor of Arts
in International Business and Marketing from the University of Oregon
.
Jones made his first speaking appearance representing MySpace on June 10, 2009 at the Credit Suisse Global Media & Communications Convergence Conference. Since taking on the role of co-president, he’s participated in several industry other tradeshows and events including Le Web, Game Developers Conference and HORIZONT Digital Marketing Days.
He has been published by the Internet journal iMediaConnection. On June 5, 2009, Jones' entrepreneurial achievements were recognized with a TechFellow award in the field of General Management.
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
on October 1, 2010. In this role, Mike oversees global business operations for Myspace, Myspace Music and Myspace Mobile. He is also responsible for business development, strategic partnerships and support operations across these platforms.
Jones previously served as the president of Myspace and prior to that the company's co-president along with Jason Hirschhorn
Jason Hirschhorn
Jason Hirschhorn was named co-president of MySpace along with Michael Jones on February 10, 2010. In this role, he oversees Product, Marketing, Public Relations, Customer Care, Safety, Security and Privacy...
.
Prior to his position at Myspace, Jones was the CEO and founder of Internet company Userplane
Userplane
Userplane is a white label service that offers both group-chat and one-to-one messenger services, which gives website owners the ability to offer chat between their users in a wall-gardened experience....
and a Senior Vice President of AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
. Within AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
, Jones was a Senior Vice President and managed Userplane
Userplane
Userplane is a white label service that offers both group-chat and one-to-one messenger services, which gives website owners the ability to offer chat between their users in a wall-gardened experience....
within the AIM
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997...
division. He coordinated with other AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
subsidiaries and internal brands to enable distribution of Web applications to publishers under the Userplane
Userplane
Userplane is a white label service that offers both group-chat and one-to-one messenger services, which gives website owners the ability to offer chat between their users in a wall-gardened experience....
brand.
Jones is also CEO of Tsavo Media which was sold to Cyberplex on May 18, 2010 for $75 million. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to private startups and currently sits on the boards of Docstoc, GumGum, MoVoxx, People Media, and FreeConference.
Jones opened his first Web consulting business during his junior year of college, and eventually migrated his practice into PBJ Digital, a 40-person firm that served an estimated 200 companies, including Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
. After selling PBJ Digital, Jones and his partners, Nate Thelen, Kevin Prentiss, and Javier Hall, formed Userplane
Userplane
Userplane is a white label service that offers both group-chat and one-to-one messenger services, which gives website owners the ability to offer chat between their users in a wall-gardened experience....
.
Jones has a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in International Business and Marketing from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
.
Media appearances
In March of 2010, Jones and fellow co-president Jason Hirschhorn appeared in articles from USA Today, Financial Times, and Mashable, in which they discussed MySpace’s upcoming re-launch. Both executives recently appeared at TechCrunch Disrupt.Jones made his first speaking appearance representing MySpace on June 10, 2009 at the Credit Suisse Global Media & Communications Convergence Conference. Since taking on the role of co-president, he’s participated in several industry other tradeshows and events including Le Web, Game Developers Conference and HORIZONT Digital Marketing Days.
He has been published by the Internet journal iMediaConnection. On June 5, 2009, Jones' entrepreneurial achievements were recognized with a TechFellow award in the field of General Management.