Jerry Shereshewsky offers iLAET many talents, from expertise in political science to creative marketing and media innovation. He is particularly experienced in direct marketing and traditional and interactive media, all from a unique vantage point. A case in point is grandparents.com, a lifestyle website for baby boomer grandparents that he founded and of which he is CEO. The site integrates a wealth of child-friendly experiences and activities, from toy and gift reviews and recommendations to original video content, expert advice on relationships, personal finance, gift buying, education, and more.
After running the marketing for Yahoo!’s Media Sales Group for almost 9 years, both in the U.S. and internationally, Jerry was known as the “Ambassador Plenipotentiary for Madison Ave,” positioning him to deliver education messages to both consumers and businesses. Moreover, he may be the only marketing executive in the burgeoning digital technology field who has invented a new brand of soda pop. Then again, he has been associated with breakthrough marketing ideas over his distinguished career. Starting in the mailroom at Young & Rubicam, the venerable advertising and marketing agency with offices in 80 countries, he rose to Senior Vice President before moving to Wunderman, the premier direct marketing agency, and then on to public relations giant Burson-Marsteller. Then he decamped for BMG (the Bertelsmann Music Group) where he was VP Marketing and Sales for Special Products.
Jerry left BMG in 1995 to join Seth Godin in an Internet start-up, Yoyodyne. He helped to build Yoyodyne into the premier direct marketing promotion company online, making it so attractive that Yahoo! bought it. After his stay at Yahoo!, he created grandparents.com.
Jerry saw the adoption of computer technologies firsthand. In 1980 at Young & Rubicam, he ran the Atari home computer account. When he arrived at Burson-Marsteller, he was the only executive in the company with a PC on his desk. At Bertelsmann, his boss asked him, “What do you want a computer for? You have a private secretary!”
Jerry served on the Board of Directors of The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) as well as the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Wisconsin School of Business. He currently sits on the Advisory Board for the BrandCenter at Virginia Commonwealth University, the New York American Marketing Association and its EFFIE award program, as well as the New York Ad Club. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he received his degree in Russian History.
