OUR NEW SITE IS

aboutus

Magnet Companies is a private equity-backed holding company that acquires and builds direct-to-consumer companies to maximize their reach, engagement and revenue.

With offices in New York and Los Angeles, Magnet focuses on consumer-oriented properties at the intersection of content, community and commerce.

Magnet Companies was established in 2018 and founded by Betsy Morgan, Brett Bouttier and Jeff Berman.

About Us

MEET THE TEAM

BRETT BOUTTIER

Brett Bouttier was most recently the President of Awesomeness, a leading multi-platform media company serving the global Gen Z audience, including the biggest teen brand on YouTube and many social video platforms, as well as a full-fledged studio producing digital, television and feature film content. He joined the business and partnered with founder Brian Robbins in 2012, shortly after its launch and Series-A funding. Awesomeness was acquired by DreamWorks Animation in 2013.

Prior to Awesomeness, Bouttier was SVP/GM of Digital at the Warner Bros Television Group, overseeing all WBTVG digital initiatives as well as original digital content and led the digital distribution of WBTVG’s programming. Bouttier negotiated the joint venture agreement with AOL that became TMZ and was a key member of the team that developed, launched and ran the business, which quickly became the number-one entertainment news destination on the Internet and ultimately expanded into television.

Bouttier graduated from UCLA with a degree in Economics. As a junior in college, he began working as a TV Research Analyst at Universal Television, rising to Vice President, Cable Distribution and Strategy before joining Warner Bros in 2004. In addition to his professional life, Brett lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

BETSY MORGAN

Betsy Morgan has most recently been with LionTree, an advisory and merchant bank firm focused on technology and media. She is the former CEO of TheBlaze, an early multi-platform news and entertainment business and a pioneer in the OTT space.

Prior to TheBlaze, Morgan was the first CEO of The Huffington Post, which was successfully sold to Aol in 2011. While at The Huffington Post, Morgan led the award-winning site to rapid audience and revenue growth.

Morgan joined The Huffington Post after ten years at CBS where she was Senior Vice President for CBS Interactive and the General Manager of CBSNews.com. Under Morgan’s leadership, CBSNews.com’s excellence was recognized with several industry awards. She began her career at there as the head of the CBS Television Network’s Strategic Management Group alongside the Chairman and CEO of CBS.

Early work experience for Morgan includes several years in investment banking at the North America headquarters of Schroders, in their Media & Entertainment Group. She also worked for American Sky Broadcasting, a division of News Corporation that focused on developing the U.S. direct satellite business.

Morgan is currently on the board of NASDAQ-listed TheStreet as well as the privately held Trusted Media Brands, Chartbeat and theSkimm.

JEFF BERMAN

Jeff Berman has spent the past decade at the intersection of media and technology, most recently as Executive in Residence at Greylock Partners. He previously served as President of Whalerock Industries which was the first publisher/developer ever to chart seven top 100 apps simultaneously in the App Store, ran the digital media businesses at the NFL, and held a series of positions at MySpace, ultimately serving as President of Sales & Marketing.

Jeff has advised companies across a broad range of industries and has served on multiple corporate and non-profit boards including Buddy Media (SAAS company acquired by Salesforce), Anine Bing (venture-backed fashion/commerce company), and United to Protect Democracy.

Prior to entering the business world, Jeff served as Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and as a public defender representing children charged in the District of Columbia's adult criminal courts. He also held an adjunct professorship at the Georgetown University Law Center. A graduate of Yale Law School and Connecticut College, Jeff lives in Los Angeles and is a proud dad of three phenomenal children.

Meet the Team