D. AXEL NEFF

Led product strategy and innovation for Indeed's core AI user experiences, delivering best-in-class solutions and driving significant revenue growth.

• Built Indeed's first core AI user experiences, including a chat-based job search agent, through a strategic OpenAI partnership.
• Integrated generative AI into resume optimization tools, significantly improving resume quality by 75%.
• Led a 200-person unit providing career coaching to 12,000 paying job seekers monthly.
• Increased purchase conversion by 25% through demand growth and UX optimization, contributing to substantial new recurring profits.
• Delivered 20% profit margins, generating $1.5 million in new recurring profits from Indeed's Career Help subsidiary.

Managed and developed various restaurant and quick-service restaurant ventures, alongside commercial real estate development.

• Oversaw all aspects of restaurant operations and commercial real estate development, driving business growth and profitability.
• Identified and acquired strategic real estate assets to support the expansion of restaurant concepts.

Provided executive leadership and strategic direction for a 250-employee R&D product and engineering department, driving significant revenue and innovation.

• Provided executive leadership to a 250-employee R&D product and engineering department, defining the Product Operations role and establishing a new function and team.
• Launched the company's first suite of native mobile apps, generating $20 million in new revenue.
• Championed the growth of various R&D products in the HR Tech space, leveraging off-brand assets.
• Fostered a strategic partnership with OpenAI in 2021 as an early adopter, spearheading AI-driven automation initiatives.

Contributed to the growth and development of the Western New York startup ecosystem through advisory, investment, coaching, and board membership.

• Provided strategic guidance and mentorship to emerging startups, leveraging extensive experience in product development and market scaling.
• Invested in promising ventures and facilitated connections within the startup community to foster innovation and growth.

Advised on US regulations for a successful ICO, raising significant capital through public token sales.

• Advised the team on US regulatory compliance, contributing to a successful ICO in 2017 that raised $30 million USD via a public token sale.

Co-founded Telegram Messenger, leading operations from startup to global launch and driving its rapid adoption as a top mobile messaging platform.

• Led operations and directed IT/product, overseeing go-to-market execution to build the world's #1 downloaded mobile messaging platform.
• Achieved viral growth, earning the #1 ranking on Apple App Store and Google Play Store in 50+ countries, reaching over 1 billion monthly active users (MAU).
• Architected a private global cloud network, enabling high-speed, high-bandwidth, multi-platform applications with points of presence on 4 continents.
• Liaised with corporations and strategic partners, negotiating contracts and ensuring worldwide regulatory compliance with government agencies.

Maintained oversight of international business activities for Europe's largest social media platform, driving growth and achieving a multi-billion dollar valuation.

• Planned and executed a major corporate rebranding from Vkontakte.ru to VK.com, driving international localization and growth campaigns that reached 100 million MAU.
• Realized a $3 billion USD valuation for the company through a private sale in 2014.
• Bridged communications and aligned objectives cross-functionally across monetization, business development, engineering, and legal, enabling payments and mobile gaming.
• Facilitated international business compliance and fostered tier-1 partnerships, enabling global commercialization.

Recognized for creating industry-leading resume builder and resume review services, highlighting innovation and effectiveness in career tools.

Achieved for outstanding customer service in the HR Technology sector, reflecting excellence in user support and satisfaction.

Awarded to Telegram Messenger for its rapid growth and impact in the European startup ecosystem.