Scott Messer Email Address

Principal and Founder

Demand Media is a diversified Internet company that builds platforms across its media and marketplace properties.

Scott Messer is an executive media operator with a passion for creating, operating and monetizing digital businesses. As a respected industry leader, Messer brings his extensive background in AdTech, publishing, revenue operations, SEO production, product management and first party audience data strategy to the forefront of his work as Principal & Founder at Messer Media. Messer previously served as Senior Vice President, Media at Leaf Group (NYSE: GHC) where he led awesome teams across all of publishing operations, product and engineering, and led a world-class team of AdTech revenue operation experts. He began his decade-long run at Leaf Group as a senior manager focusing on third party monetization, vendor management, contract negotiations and advertising technologies. Over the years, he facilitated hundreds of projects, deals and partnerships across Leaf Group’s various platforms and properties. In 2016, Messer became VP & GM, Media to focus on the publishing side and create a highly profitable portfolio of 40+ owned and operated vertical-focused websites known as Reference Publishing. With over 15 years of experience, Messer has consulted for several companies in the fields of branded advertising, content development, corporate naming rights, talent relations, research and fundraising. Prior to Leaf Group, Messer worked at Criterion Capital Partners, a merchant bank that invests capital and resources into micro and small cap businesses. Messer advised and performed business development for CCP’s portfolio companies and held an operational role in their Fatburger franchises. Messer worked on a handful of feature films and produced Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2004v) while at Phoenix Pictures. After earning his MBA with a concentration in Creative Industries and Entrepreneurship, he joined forces with IMG Media and National Lampoon. Messer frequently quest lectures at USC, Carnegie Mellon and New York University on the topics of business development, social media, negotiations, and the digital landscape. He has been a featured speaker at Mobile World Congress, Digiday (US and Europe), AdExchanger, IAB, Admonsters and more industry events.