Riesenbach Strategic Advisors  ·  Philadelphia, PA

Executive leadership
that creates
lasting value.

Strategic advisory, M&A counsel, executive and C-suite coaching, and board direction and governance — grounded in decades of operating leadership across digital media, technology, data, and performance marketing.

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About

A career built on
building businesses.

Jim Riesenbach

Jim Riesenbach

Founder & Principal  ·  Philadelphia, PA

Jim Riesenbach has spent decades operating at the intersection of media, technology, and data — building, scaling, and transforming businesses from the inside. As a senior executive at Comcast, AOL, Ziff Davis, and others, he has navigated the full arc of corporate complexity: strategic pivots, M&A transactions, leadership transitions, and board-level governance.

Today, through Riesenbach Strategic Advisors, he brings that operating experience directly to founders, CEOs, and boards who need more than a framework — they need someone who has been in the room.

Jim's approach is direct and collaborative: he works alongside leadership teams as a trusted partner, not a vendor — bringing pattern recognition, relationships, and hard-won operational judgment to each engagement.

Rutgers University–Camden B.S. Management  ·  Commencement Speaker, School of Business  ·  Dean's Leadership Council
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Aresty Institute — Advanced Marketing Programs
IAB B2B Committee Co-Chair  ·  150+ member industry leadership body

"Jim has an aggressive but collaborative leadership style — strong on team building, creating a sense of urgency and a can-do culture. He surrounds himself with top talent and stays calm in a challenging, dynamic environment."

— Former CFO, AutoWeb (NASDAQ: AUTO)

"His industry expertise in lead generation, performance marketing, and digital publishing is truly second to none. He was a valuable mentor to me and everyone on our team."

— Former direct report, B2B marketing leadership

Areas of Focus

Where experience
meets opportunity.

01

Executive Leadership & Mentorship

Sharpening the thinking and judgment of leaders navigating high-stakes decisions and transitions. Coaching, accountability, and strategic counsel from an executive who has sat in the seat.

02

Board Director & Governance

Helping boards and executives align on fiduciary responsibility, strategic oversight, and leadership continuity. Active board member across public and private companies, bringing independent perspective and the network to help management teams perform at the highest level.

03

M&A and Corporate Development

From first conversations through close — advising leadership on positioning, process, and what comes next. Hands-on experience leading and overseeing acquisitions in media, technology, and data businesses.

04

Growth Strategy & Innovation

Bringing an operator's lens to competitive strategy, growth planning, and business model evolution. Proven ability to identify and execute on market opportunities — repositioning companies, launching new products, and building high-growth business units from the ground up.

05

Digital Media & Performance Marketing

Deep domain expertise in digital publishing, B2B demand generation, lead generation, data services, and programmatic advertising — built across AOL, Ziff Davis, AutoWeb, VentureBeat, and multiple advisory engagements.

06

Investor & Startup Advisory

Strategic and operational support for investors and early-stage companies, including board representation, go-to-market strategy, and executive team development in high-growth environments.

Career

A track record of
consequential leadership.

A career built across transformational moments in digital media and technology — from the rise of broadband at Comcast to the evolution of performance marketing, data intelligence, and digital publishing at AOL, Ziff Davis, AutoWeb, and iInside.

2020 – Present

Founder & Principal

Riesenbach Strategic Advisors LLC  ·  Philadelphia, PA

Re-established to provide executive-level strategic advisory, board engagements, and M&A counsel. Clients and directorships have included LotLinx, Anteriad, Infuse, PharosIQ, Convertr, HIMSS Media, VentureBeat, VitalBriefing, and others.

2014 – 2020

Executive Vice President & General Manager, Global B2B

Ziff Davis, LLC  ·  San Francisco, CA

Led Ziff Davis's Global B2B Division — marketing and advertising services, data, tools, and demand generation for leading technology companies worldwide. Oversaw 4× revenue growth, six acquisitions, and a team of over 1,800 employees across global operations.

2012 – 2014

Chief Executive Officer

iInside (acquired by Skyfii / CrowdVision)  ·  Costa Mesa, CA

Led a high-growth Mobile Location intelligence company serving the Retail and Transportation sectors. Guided strategy, team building, and growth through to acquisition.

2006 – 2009

CEO & President

AutoWeb, Inc. (NASDAQ: AUTO, formerly Autobytel)  ·  Irvine, CA

Refocused the company's market strategy and launched a series of innovative products and services for automotive consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. Oversaw a cultural and operational transformation during a challenging period for the industry.

1996 – 2006

Senior Executive Leadership

AOL Inc.  ·  Dulles, VA

Decade of senior leadership roles spanning Business Development, Sales, and Strategic Partnerships — including executive oversight of AOL's landmark strategic partnership with Google.

1990 – 1996

Sales & Marketing Leadership, Eastern Division

Comcast Corporation  ·  Philadelphia, PA

Headed sales and marketing for Comcast's Eastern Division — the company's largest region — during a formative period of cable industry growth and expansion.

Voices

What colleagues
and partners say.

Jim proved to be one of the most brilliant thought leaders in the B2B marketing space that it has ever been my pleasure to know. His industry expertise in lead generation, performance marketing, and digital publishing is truly second to none. What's more, Jim is a very down to Earth person and was a valuable mentor to me and everyone on my team.

Senior Marketing Executive Former Direct Report, B2B Marketing Leadership

Jim was very patient with me coming up the learning curve in a new industry and was a great teacher and mentor. Jim has an aggressive but collaborative leadership style; strong on team building, and motivating, that creates a sense of urgency and a can-do culture. He surrounds himself with top talent and has the ability to stay calm in a challenging, dynamic, high-pressure environment.

Chief Financial Officer AutoWeb, Inc. (NASDAQ: AUTO)

Jim has good analytical skills and a strong insistence on reliable and credible business intelligence, which together with his marketing and sales abilities and innovative spirit, give him a great perception of consumer products and behaviors. Combined with his strategic skills in evaluating the marketplace, this gave him the insight to create a strategic vision and develop appropriate strategies to maximize value.

Board-Level Colleague Public Company, Automotive Technology Sector

Jim's leadership gave him the exceptional talent to lead a very positive cultural and operational change. I would unreservedly recommend Jim Riesenbach.

Former CFO AutoWeb (NASDAQ: AUTO) — Early 2007

Contact

Let's have a
conversation.

Whether you're navigating a transaction, a leadership transition, or a strategic inflection point — let's talk.

Riesenbach Strategic Advisors works with a select group of clients and board engagements each year. If you're exploring a strategic advisory relationship, a board directorship, or M&A counsel, I welcome the conversation.

There is no hard pitch here — just an honest dialogue about where I might add genuine value.

LinkedIn  ·  Jim Riesenbach jim@riesenbachadvisors.com Philadelphia, PA