Edward B Kurpis
Professional Experience
Biography
Founding VP of Finance/Administration for $3 billion media division
“During his tenure, Kurpis’ strategic and financial expertise directly led NBC’s growth from a purely traditional broadcast television company into a dynamic, fully integrated global media entity…”
Kurpis is a 14-year veteran of NBC in New York, having served as its founding Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Network’s New Media and Business Development divisions. During his tenure, his strategic and financial expertise directly led NBC’s growth from a purely traditional broadcast television company into a dynamic, fully integrated global media entity:
As the senior finance, strategy and business development executive for NBC's $3+ Billion operating division ("NBC Cable") and related media entities, Kurpis:
Co-created and oversaw:
- 21 separate Cable Television Network joint ventures
- 3 NBC Interactive Media operating companies
- 4 key NBC International TV Networks
- NBC’s Cable, International and New Media Advertising Sales Division
Guided the division’s development from a period of significant start-up operating losses to profits of well over $50MM+ annually-- guiding its growth from a deficit position to becoming a division with an asset value well over $3 billion.
Named Vice President and CFO for a number of prominent cable television/media ventures, including the 1992 Summer Olympics Barcelona (Triplecast) and for the American Medical Association’s American Medical Television Network
Served on the Boards of Directors of a number of well-known media companies, including the Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E), the History Channel, Bravo, the Independent Film Channel and Court TV. Kurpis has been featured in the media as a prominent media and ethics expert, with bookings on the networks of CNN, USA, Bloomberg Television, Fox News, Business News Radio, Talk America Radio Network and in USA Today-Weekend.
Co-Founder and Co-Creator of CNBCAmong his noteworthy media accomplishments, Kurpis developed the original research, financial, and business plans for the creation and launch of CNBC in 1988, and then served as its divisional CFO.
* Single-handedly developed focused customer and market research that identified the market need for a financial news network.
* Developed viable mission and vision statements and communication strategies.
* Single-handedly wrote the business plan strategic plan, and the marketing and financial plans for the launch and development of NBC's cable financial news network.
* Responsible for securing financial approvals for the project, including Board presentations of the business proposition to Jack Welch, chairman of GE, his Board/management team,
and senior executive teams from NBC and Cablevision Systems Corporation.
* Led the integrated marketing communications and financial activities necessary to establish distribution of the Network to cable operators.
* After launch, also held the position of acting Divisional CFO of CNBC from 1988-92
Key Strategic Planning Architect of MSNBC
Kurpis was a key strategic architect in the creation of MSNBC, the NBC/Microsoft cable and internet news network distributed to over 80 million homes:
· Developed key portions of the original business, marketing and strategic plans for MSNBC.
· Played pivotal negotiating role in Washington DC at the Federal Trade Commission, testifying against the distribution power of Time Warner and anti-competitive moves made by Ted Turner’s organization, which led to the development and launch of this service.
· Negotiated key advertising goals for internet service development
Key Media Finance and Strategy Adviser to GE
Kurpis served as the key strategy and financial adviser to GE Capital, GE Financial Services, Wertheim Schroeder & Co., Evercore Partners, and Kidder Peabody on the development of GE's media investment portfolio and other key media investment projects:
-IPO of NBC Cable/NBC Internet properties
-Negotiated Key Asset Sales/Dispositions
-Developed Secured/Unsecured Credit Facilities to finance start up operations
-Negotiated Private Placements, including complex warrant/option packages
Also named divisional head of GE/NBC's Business Ethics initiative:
* Internal point person designated to develop, distribute and train key NBC executives and employees on matters of
business ethics, as described in the GE guidebook: “Integrity: the Spirit and the Letter.”
* Lectured and trained extensively to employees worldwide on the subject of business ethics.
Positions held:RCA Corporation, NY NY, Director-Corporate Planning
RCA Semiconductors, Somerville NJ , Manager-Marketing Projects
RCA Records / Bertlesmann AG (JV), NY, NY, Finance Associate /Acquisitions
RCA Astro-Electronics, Hightstown, NJ, Financial Associate
Positions held:
Corporate Accounting Manager, Detroit, MI
Accounting Manager, Ann Arbor, MI
Commercial and Mortgage Loan Officer, Ann Arbor. MI
