James Warner
Former Executive VP, Avenue A | Razorfish
Jim Warner brings thirty years of experience as a leader in the media business to his role as advisor and consultant. He has built and led organizations in digital media, network and cable television and magazine publishing and gained expertise in general management, marketing and sales leadership, international operations and strategy development.
Warner joined Avenue A in 2000 and built its East Coast operation into one of the pre-eminent digital agencies. He became Executive Vice President of the company when it acquired Razorfish in 2004. He served on the executive committee of aQuantive, the parent company, which was sold to Microsoft in 2007, its largest acquisition. As a leader of Avenue A|Razorfish, Warner advised Fortune 500 marketers such as Capital One, Verizon and Starwood Hotels on digital marketing and advertising, web design and development, and strategy development.
Before joining Avenue A, Warner ran Third Floor Enterprises, a media consulting firm advising traditional and digital media companies and served as President of Primedia’s magazine division, overseeing more than 250 consumer and business magazines, web sites and trade show properties including Seventeen, New York Magazine, Surfing and Modern Bride.
From 1989 to 1998 Warner held senior management positions at CBS. As President of the CBS Television Network, from 1995 to 1998, he led the network’s advertising sales, distribution, affiliate relations, research, standards and practices, and marketing and promotion efforts. He introduced CBS’ Welcome Home positioning strategy which sparked the network’s resurgence, strengthened relations with station group owners and pioneered the network’s first digital initiatives. Warner was President, CBS Enterprises from 1989 to 1995, which he formed and grew into one of the leading program distribution operations in the world.
From 1986 to 1989 he was VP, HBO Enterprises, responsible for HBO’s program distribution, coproductions and international operations. Earlier at HBO, which he joined in 1980, Warner acquired movies for HBO’s services and helped launch Cinemax and pay TV ventures in the UK, Germany and Japan.
Warner received a BA with honors from Yale College and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He is a Trustee of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of New York City and lives in Westchester County, New York with his wife Priscilla, an author, and their two sons.
