Harry M. Rubin

Harry M. Rubin
Born (1952-12-21) December 21, 1952
Kings Point, NY, U.S.
Alma mater Stanford University (B.A.)
Harvard Business School (M.B.A)
Occupation Chairman, Henmead Enterprises, Inc.
Director of Synthesis Energy Systems Inc.
Spouse(s) C. M. Rubin

Harry Meyer Rubin (born December 21, 1952) is an entertainment and computer software industry executive. He is co-founder of the firm which brews Samuel Adams beer.[1][2][3]

Personal history

Rubin was born in Kings Point, NY and is named after his grandfather, Harry Meyer Rubin, founder and owner of the former soap manufacturing firm, H. M. Rubin Company. Rubin lived and traveled all over the U.S., but spent the majority of his childhood in Southern California where he attended Palisades Charter High School. Rubin graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. and Harvard Business School with an M.B.A. Rubin worked as an executive at American Airlines in the years immediately following his graduation from Harvard Business School.

He is currently the Chairman of Henmead Enterprises, Inc. and is a director of Synthesis Energy Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: SYMX) [4][5]

Entertainment and computer software industries

Rubin began his career in the entertainment industry with RCA, which owned television network, NBC. At RCA, Rubin held several positions, including Vice President for Strategic Planning and Video Coordination.[6] Following General Electric's June 1986 purchase of RCA,[7] Rubin was named GE's Head of Business Affairs, Cable TV, and Home Video.

In 1991, Rubin and his wife co-created the board game, "Let's Buy Hollywood".[8] Published by Rubin's firm, Henmead Enterprises, the game is similar in structure to Monopoly, players had to build a vertically integrated entertainment empire, incorporating all aspects of the industry, from talent acquisition, to film production and ultimately, distribution.

Rubin left NBC in November 1993 and worked as an independent management consultant from January 1994 through June 1994.[9] During this period, he provided consulting services to start-up software company, GT Interactive.[9] He became a full-time employee of GT in June 1994, when he was appointed the firm's Chief Financial Officer, a position he held until August 1995.[9] While serving as CFO, Rubin was also appointed an Executive Vice-President and General Manager-International Division and Business Affairs”.[9] In April 1998, he was appointed president of the firm's international division.[10]

GT became one of multiple publishers of Doom, the bestselling video game of the 90's, and its revenues grew rapidly, from $18 million in 1993 [9] to $365 million three years later.[11] The firm's growth was also fueled by its acquisition of other companies, including, WizardWorks, FormGen, and Humongous Entertainment, creator of the Backyard Sports series. GT eventually became Wal-Mart's primary video game supplier, accounting for 29% of GT's sales in 1999.[9][12]

Following a series of financial setbacks, the firm incurred a $90 million loss in 1999 and terminated its CEO. In a weakened position, GT was purchased by Infogrames and merged into their existing operations, taking that company's name. GT's losses were brought on, in part, by Wal-Mart's decision to purchase software directly from certain publishers instead of through GT.[12] In 2003, Infogrames became Atari Interactive. Rubin remained with the firm, keeping his existing positions and was eventually appointed the firm's Chief Operating Officer, as well, until his retirement in 2005.

In 2005, Rubin and Atari CEO, Bruno Bonnell, co-executive produced the movie, Alone in the Dark, based on the popular Atari game of the same name.[13] The movie was directed by three-time Razzies nominee and "Worst Career Achievement" winner, Uwe Boll, who also served as executive producer, along with Wolfgang Herold. The film, which cost over $20 million to produce, was a box office flop, generating approximately $10 million in revenue and is considered one of the worst film adaptations of all time.

Beer

In 1984, Rubin, Lorenzo Lamadrid, and Jim Koch, all of whom attended Harvard Business School, founded the Boston Beer Company, brewer of Samuel Adams Lager.[1][14][15]

Coal

In 2006, Rubin entered the coal business when he was invited to become a director of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. ("SES") (NASDAQ: SYMX), where Lorenzo Lamadrid and Sam Adams co-founder, had recently become chairman.[16] Currently, he is chairman of SES's Nominating and Governance Committee, as well as, a member of the Audit and Compensation committees. SES is a microcap alternative energy company that provides technology, equipment and engineering services for the conversion of low rank, low cost coal and biomass feedstocks into energy and chemical products through their proprietary U-GAS fluidized bed gasification technology.[17] On January 5, SES announced that it had regained compliance with NASDAQ's $1.00 minimum bid rules.[18] These rules establish minimum standards for securities to trade on the NASDAQ.

References

  1. 1 2 "Harry Rubin". Forbes.
  2. ↑ cbs,cin Top 5 Things You Didn't Know About the History of Boston's Craft Beer Revolution
  3. ↑ http://mentalitch.com/the-history-of-samuel-adams-beer/
  4. ↑ "Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. Appoints Harry M. Rubin to Board of Directors; Leading Technology Executive Adds International Business Building Expertise to Board.".
  5. ↑ "People: SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC. (SYMX.O)". Reuters.
  6. ↑ Billboard Magazine: Experts View a Muddled Global Picture
  7. ↑ NY Times: GE to Sell its Holding in RCA/Ariola Records
  8. ↑ NY Times: Game Imitates Art with Greed, Malice and Spite
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 GT Interactive Form S-1 General form for registration of securities under the Securities Act of 1933
  10. ↑ GT Interactive 1998 Form 10-K
  11. ↑ GT Interactive 1997 Form 10-K
  12. 1 2 GT Interactive 1999 Form 10-K
  13. ↑ "Harry Rubin Movies".
  14. ↑ cbs,cin Top 5 Things You Didn't Know About the History of Boston's Craft Beer Revolution
  15. ↑ http://mentalitch.com/the-history-of-samuel-adams-beer/
  16. ↑ Synthesis Energy Systems: Lorenzo Lamadrid
  17. ↑ www.ses.com
  18. ↑ Synthesis Energy Systems Regains NASDAQ Compliance

External links

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