User:Mkrafft

Michael Krafft established unprecedented avenues of growth with StoryFirst; the first U.S.-funded television, radio and broadband network in the former Soviet Union, reporting to Peter Gerwe, Chairman/CEO. Financed by Universal Studios, Morgan Stanley, DLJ, Westwood One, Harris Allied and News Corp resulting in today’s CTC Network. In 2006 the signal was carried by 330 television stations across Russia with an advertising market share of 15.6%. As an executive with Metromedia, he helped create global cluster strategies in Asia, Latin America, CEE, the former Soviet Union and Central Asia. During his career, Mr. Krafft has participated in, and/or led, over 50 joint venture agreements, mergers and acquisitions within a variety of industries; specializing in media and communications. Metromedia’s infrastructure footprint, reaching 1.6 billion people, became a conduit for distribution of content owned by Metromedia through MGM, Orion and Sterling Films.

Mr. Krafft spent 8 years in global assignments prior to his appointment as Vice President, Corporate Development for TIW, a global telecommunications company with subscribers clustered in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The two operating companies in Romania (Connex) and the Czech Republic (Oskar) were sold to Vodafone for $3.5 billion in March of 2005. He was based in Prague directing new venture development.

Over 20 years, Mr. Krafft has built deep relationships with leading strategic and institutional investors, private equity funds, fund of funds, hedge funds and venture capital firms.

Mr. Krafft is the managing partner of M&A Media Group a global media and communications advisory firm he founded in 1999. Michael holds a Master of Business Administration Degree in International Management - Finance from the American Graduate School of International Management and is proficient in Russian and a former board member of the Russian National Orchestra.