John S. Zieser

John S. Zieser serves as Chief Development Officer and General Counsel. He is responsible for managing the Company’s business development functions and oversees company-wide legal affairs, corporate communications, public relations, and government relations.   

Zieser has led Meredith’s business and strategic initiatives ranging from the recent acquisition of Allrecipes.com, the world's leading food site, to the purchase of the magazine franchises of Gruner+Jahr (Parents, Family Circle, Fitness, Ser Padres,) led several acquisitions of digital, social media and mobile firms resulting in the transformation of Meredith’s high growth integrated marketing business, acquired and aligned with consumer online networks, and forged significant strategic global licensing relationships including with Walmart relating to the Better Homes and Gardens brand. Zieser also leads the Company’s international business activities including over forty licensing partnerships with major non-U.S. media partners around the globe.

Zieser is a well-recognized international speaker and panelist on business development and the digital marketplace, and regularly featured in leading trade and online sites including The Deal, Silicon Alley Insider, Folio Magazine, Advertising Age and Mergers and Acquisitions Magazine. Zieser has also been featured in Super Lawyer and The National Law Journal.  Zieser was recently honored as one of the 2012 Folio 40, recognizing the industry's most innovative and distinguished professionals. 

Prior to joining Meredith in 1999, Zieser was Group President at First Data Merchant Services, a $500 million subsidiary of First Data Corporation. He joined First Data in 1993 and served in various executive positions. Prior to joining First Data, Zieser was with the multi-national law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell, where he specialized in U.S. and international mergers, acquisitions, venture capital and private equity transactions. While at Sullivan & Crowell, Zieser had posts in the U.S. as well as London and Melbourne, Australia.

Zieser earned his law degree from Cornell University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and serving as Senior Editor on the Cornell Law Review.   Zieser earned both MBA and BBA degrees with Beta Gamma Sigma honors from the University of Iowa.

Zieser sits on the boards of The Hyperfactory (a leading mobile services firm), iris Nation Worldwide (a leading global digital marketing services firm,) and Next Issue Media LLC (the digital e-tablet joint venture among Time, Meredith, Hearst, Conde Nast and News Corp), and is on the Advisory Board of Veronis Atlas Digital Media Fund LP, a venture capital fund focused on early-stage media companies.