A founding executive, Rich has been with Zinio since its conceptual inception and has been instrumental in the growth of the company having had responsibility for the introduction of new departmental mandates including product creation, operational oversight, and client services. Rich has led the development of new strategic business and partnering opportunities, including the development of new domestic and international partnership opportunities; new revenue streams for the Company's core business; and new product markets and verticals. Prior to Zinio, Rich worked at America Online where he was a key member of the Office of the Vice Chairman and was involved in high-level strategy initiatives, organizational planning, and transactional assignments working closely with investment and business units. Prior to AOL, Rich was an analyst with ML Strategies Inc, a boutique consultancy in Boston. His assignments, on behalf of companies in the media and technology industries, included corporate restructurings, financing and competitive market analysis. Rich graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bowdoin College.

Prior to joining Zinio Systems in 2004, Rita spent four years at Rising Tide, a media consulting firm.  As a senior partner, Rita worked with a diverse group of consumer and B2B publishers to evaluate and re-design sales strategies and structures, identify and size new revenue streams and extend existing brands by building on core competencies.

Before joining Rising Tide, Rita spent 17 years in hands on and senior management publishing positions, gaining global experience in print, online, event marketing and research.

A veteran of Ziff-Davis Media, Rita worked on individual titles including PC Tech Journal and PC/Computing. Rita gained International publishing experience in managing the Ziff-Davis wholly owned and joint venture properties in France, Germany, UK, China and Mexico for PC Magazine and PC/Computing. As Executive Vice President of Corporate Sales, she was responsible for annual contract negotiations with major accounts.  In addition, she designed and implemented a 360º sales process company wide to identify and sell incremental cross media programs.

Rita earned a BA from Loyola University in Chicago.


Rob Novotny

Rob has more than 15 years of experience translating business and customer requirements into compelling technology-based products and services. He is a Zinio pioneer and veteran, leading the teams responsible for defining and launching all aspects of the Zinio digital magazine and textbook product lines. Rob’s product and technology background is extensive--working for Silicon Valley heavies such as Yahoo!, in a product strategy role for their consumer services division, and Netscape Communications, in a product management role as they transitioned from a browser company to a web portal. He also led the product group in charge of email, fax and desktop connectivity applications for the pioneer startup GO Corporation. And as a true entrepreneur, he co-founded two successful software companies. Rob graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California-Davis with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.