Krishnan Menon
Encyclopedia
Krishnan Menon is a consumer marketer and television producer, and the founder and chief executive officer of PHENOMENON, a strategic marketing and branded entertainment think-tank.
. Previously, he had been President of Digitas
’s west coast operations, running their San Francisco and Salt Lake City offices. He was also managing partner of the retail practice at the now defunct USWeb/CKS
, working for CEO Joe Firmage
. His clients have included Apple, Williams-Sonoma, American Express, Jet Blue, Xerox and The Home Depot. In 2000, he won his first Clio
for his work on Williams-Sonoma
.
, which aired on ABC Family
, and has sold two scripted shows – Heir Apparent at FX written by Kevin Kennedy and Niels Mueller
and executive produced by Menon and Jonathan Prince
, and Genius Bar at CBS
from writers Josh Sternin
and Jeff Ventimilia
, which was one of 2006’s richest put pilot commitments, and won by CBS in a spirited bidding contest against NBC and ABC. The show was based on an idea from Menon.
He has produced several product integration segments within popular reality shows, including The Celebrity Apprentice
, Project Runway
, and America's Next Top Model
.
In August 2010, Menon made a first-look development deal at Fox Television Studios
. Under the agreement, FtvS will have first crack at Menon’s television and Internet content projects, which Menon reportedly is developing with brands attached.
Agency career
Before founding PHENOMENON, Menon served as the Chief Strategy Officer of DDB North AmericaDDB Worldwide
DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc., known internationally as DDB, is a worldwide marketing communications network. It is owned by Omnicom Group Inc, one of the world's largest advertising holding companies...
. Previously, he had been President of Digitas
Digitas
Digitas is an integrated advertising agency and a member of the Publicis Groupe. The company currently has over 3,000 employees in 32 offices in 19 countries. Digitas also owns The Third Act: , Digitas Health, , Prodigious Worldwide and Solutions | Digitas...
’s west coast operations, running their San Francisco and Salt Lake City offices. He was also managing partner of the retail practice at the now defunct USWeb/CKS
USWeb
USWeb is currently an Internet marketing company going by the same name as the original USWeb of the 1990s. The original USWeb was founded as a web design and site engineering company which expanded during the dot-com boom into online strategy consulting and online marketing...
, working for CEO Joe Firmage
Joe Firmage
Joseph Firmage is an American Internet entrepreneur. He founded several business ventures prior to and during the dot-com boom and currently is involved with two closely linked organizations: ManyOne Networks, of which he is CEO, and the Digital Universe Foundation, of which he is a co-founder and...
. His clients have included Apple, Williams-Sonoma, American Express, Jet Blue, Xerox and The Home Depot. In 2000, he won his first Clio
Clio Awards
The Clio Awards are annual awards bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication. The categories include work in nearly all types of media, and the judges are advertising professionals from around the world....
for his work on Williams-Sonoma
Williams-Sonoma
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a high-end American consumer retail company that sells kitchenwares, furniture and linens, as well as other housewares and home furnishings, along with a variety of specialty foods, soaps and lotions...
.
Television career
Since venturing into TV in 2006, Menon created and executive produced America's Prom QueenAmerica's Prom Queen
America's Prom Queen is a reality TV series created by consumer marketer Krishnan Menon and produced by PB&J Television that debuted on ABC Family on March 17, 2008. The show follows 10 girls aspiring for the title of "America's Prom Queen". Each week, the girls face a prom-related challenge, and...
, which aired on ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
, and has sold two scripted shows – Heir Apparent at FX written by Kevin Kennedy and Niels Mueller
Niels Mueller
Niels Mueller is a filmmaker currently resident in Los Angeles. He was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended Tufts University where he earned a BA. While an undergraduate, he collaborated with fellow-student Gary Winick on a number of independent film projects. Mueller subsequently...
and executive produced by Menon and Jonathan Prince
Jonathan Prince
Jonathan Alexander Prince is an American actor, director, screenwriter and movie producer.-Career:Prince embarked on an acting career following graduation from Harvard University. His most prominent roles include "Leo" in the 1981 CBS series Mr...
, and Genius Bar at CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from writers Josh Sternin
Joshua Sternin
-Career:Among Sternin's producer credits include 23 episodes of Murphy Brown in 1996 through 1997 and as writer for 10 of them, as well as producer for 64 episodes of That 70's Show in 1998 through 2001 and as a writer for 8 of them. In 2002, he and Jeffrey Ventimilia created a show for Fox called...
and Jeff Ventimilia
Jeffrey Ventimilia
Jeffrey Ventimilia is an American television writer. Ventimilia wrote The Simpsons episode "Simpson Tide" and the teleplay of the episode "'Round Springfield", based on a story idea by Al Jean and Mike Reiss. Other credits include Murphy Brown, That '70s Show, and The Critic...
, which was one of 2006’s richest put pilot commitments, and won by CBS in a spirited bidding contest against NBC and ABC. The show was based on an idea from Menon.
He has produced several product integration segments within popular reality shows, including The Celebrity Apprentice
The Apprentice (U.S. Season 7)
The Celebrity Apprentice is the seventh installment of the United States version of the reality television series, The Apprentice. This season features celebrity candidates vying for the title of Donald Trump's, "Best Business Brain," as a way to revitalize the series, with the winner donating...
, Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
, and America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
.
In August 2010, Menon made a first-look development deal at Fox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios, Inc. is the TV production arm of the News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, as well as being the production arm of Fox and a production arm of 20th Century Fox Television, Inc., itself a division of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation...
. Under the agreement, FtvS will have first crack at Menon’s television and Internet content projects, which Menon reportedly is developing with brands attached.