Joseph Gillespie is executive vice president of CNET Networks' CNET division, which includes CNET.com, Download.com, and News.com. CNET is the place where people go to thrive in a world gone digital. As head of CNET, Joe is responsible for vision and execution, ensuring that CNET continues to innovate and lead the market in developing engaging, authentic brand experiences that satisfy the needs and interests of its influential audience.
Joe Gillespie brings more than 20 years of operations, sales, and marketing experience, spanning online, television, events, and print media. During his tenure, Joe has led CNET's Web 2.0 strategy, including several brand extensions which attracted new audiences and advertisers. These extensions include CNET TV, Webware.com, Crave.com, Car Tech, and the CNET Blog Network. In addition, CNET has won several editorial awards, and for two years in a row has won "Publisher of the Year" in the Technology Category for Avenue A /Razorfish 2006 and 2007 Digital Outlook Report.
Joe joined CNET Networks in mid-2004 as Chief Marketing Officer with an existing passion for the company's CNET.com Web site, which had been his home page for more than eight years. Since joining CNET Networks, Joe has helped it achieve its objective to expand into new audience and customer segments, including its success in attracting credit card, hotel, and consumer electronics advertisers. He also spearheaded CNET Networks' "different kind of media company" corporate-positioning initiative, introduced in early 2005.
Prior to joining CNET Networks, Joe served as executive vice president, chief operating officer, and acting chief executive officer of Vulcan Ventures' TechTV. Before working at TechTV, he was an executive vice president of corporate sales and marketing for Ziff-Davis, Inc. Joe spent his early career in sports media with companies including CBS Sports, National Broadcasting Company, and Sports Information Database, Inc. He earned his BA in Journalism/Communications from Rutgers College and is a current member of its advisory board.
Joe lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and his pet black Lab. In his free time, he enjoys music, cars, golf, and hiking in the Marin Headlands with his dog.
