Product + Strategy + Innovation + AI
Shaping process and products through strategic leadership, measurable
Shaping tomorrow's products through strategic leadership, measurable impact,
impact, and
and
AI innovation
Matthew Hall, AI-Forward Strategic Product Leader
Matthew Hall, Product Leader + AI
Crawley, West Sussex, UK
£7M Sale
Strategically grew niche platform from £200K to £7M exit
600% Uplift
Uplift in engagement through innovative ingestion process
MAU ↑ 1.9×
User growth through unified multi-product platform strategy
<10 sec
Onboarding reduced from days to <10s via industry-first API integration
Team ↑ 20+
Grew product team from solo PM to 20+ cross-functional team
100+ Releases
Shipped over 100 products and websites globally
10+ Verticals
B2B/B2C SaaS, media, eCommerce, social platforms + more
~40% ↑ Output
Efficiency gains via modular delivery and product ops refinement
Executive summary
With 20 years of scaling platforms through strategic product management and cross-functional leadership. I approach product challenges by treating industry standards as baselines rather than ceilings, consistently delivering solutions that drive measurable business impact.
Deep technical fluency spanning product strategy, design, development, and marketing enables seamless collaboration and technical product leadership, combining creative drive with data-driven execution across global markets and new concept validation.
now playing: Building Beyond Baselines
Watch how I use my strategic process to systemically break best practice standards to create better products and industry innovations.
Clients and partnerships
Measurable Results
Every market-leading product is built on strategic decisions, iterative design, and disciplined execution. These case studies show how I led from vision to innovation, and innovation to market success.
AI enhanced product leadership
I use AI as a strategic partner to accelerate decision-making and workflow efficiency whilst maintaining human-led judgement. From multi-agent research workflows to automated competitive intelligence, I strategically implement AI across product discovery, user research acceleration and product design processes.
profesional experience
Head of Product & Growth
Multi-Product Music SaaS Platform
Role Overview
Led product strategy and execution for a lean 5-person product team, transforming a marketing agency into a comprehensive music industry SaaS platform. Managed full product lifecycle across B2B/B2C segments whilst scaling from MVP to market-competing unified platform.
Key Achievements
600% engagement uplift through industry-first API-driven onboarding reducing setup time from hours to less than 10 seconds
1.9× increase in MAUs within 6 months via unified multi-product platform strategy
Established "Monthly Active Products per User (MAPU)" as North Star Metric, achieving 60% improvement over 12 months
Significant MRR growth through tiered subscription and credit optimisation models
Strategic Innovation
Industry-First Onboarding Revolution
Diagnosed critical engagement problem (90% single-product usage) through comprehensive data analysis and user research. Designed API-driven solution integrating Spotify, SoundCharts, and social media APIs to auto-populate artist profiles and music catalogues, eliminating manual data entry friction.
Multi-Product Platform Strategy
Unified fragmented music services (distribution, publishing, promotion, royalties, analytics) into cohesive ecosystem. Built scalable subscription models with free full-feature tier, credit-based usage, and unlimited plans serving indie artists through to major labels.
Technical Leadership
Tools & Platforms: Figma, PostHog, Mixpanel, Looker, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Jira, Confluence, OpenAI API, Spotify API, Soundcharts API
Methodologies: Agile/Scrum delivery, Lean startup validation, A/B testing frameworks, OKR planning, API-first architecture
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered closely with 2-person engineering team, marketing stakeholders, and third-party API providers to deliver technical integrations whilst maintaining user-centric design principles.
Music Gateway, UK (2020-2025)
Head of Design & Project Management
Automotive SaaS and Agency Platform
Role Overview
Led design strategy and project delivery for proprietary vehicle stock and CMS platform whilst directing agency operations across 100+ client projects. Managed cross-functional teams of 10-15 across design, development, and marketing, overseeing both internal product development and external client delivery.
Key Achievements
Won global RFP for Audi/Volkswagen ME expansion against international competitors, leading complete platform re-architecture
Directed design agency operations delivering 100+ automotive client projects annually with streamlined processes
Implemented GDPR compliance framework across entire client portfolio, ensuring regulatory adherence for 100+ websites
40% reduction in client-reported bugs via improved design-to-development processes and quality assurance protocols
Halved design-to-development handoff time through standardised documentation and workflow optimisation
Strategic Innovation
Multi-Market Platform Architecture
Led international stakeholder workshops across UK, Germany, and Middle East to redesign proprietary CMS for global deployment. Orchestrated parallel development sprints enabling marketing, design, development, and localisation teams to work simultaneously on complex multi-currency, RTL-ready, multi-location platform overhaul.
Agency Operations Management
Established scalable design and project management processes for handling diverse automotive client portfolio. Created standardised workflows, quality assurance protocols, and client communication frameworks that improved delivery consistency and client satisfaction across 100+ concurrent projects.
Compliance & Risk Management
Proactively identified GDPR compliance gaps across client portfolio and led comprehensive implementation strategy. Developed documentation standards, privacy frameworks, and technical solutions ensuring regulatory compliance whilst maintaining operational efficiency.
Technical Leadership
Tools & Platforms: Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, proprietary CMS, MySQL, PHP, HTML/CSS, Google Analytics, project management systems
Methodologies: Hybrid agile/waterfall delivery, stakeholder workshop facilitation, multi-location team coordination, CI-compliant design systems, GDPR compliance frameworks
Cross-Functional Management: Directed design, development, marketing, and account management teams whilst coordinating with international stakeholders and maintaining client relationships across diverse automotive sector projects.
New Star Media, UK (2016-2020)
Director of Product Strategy & Design
Multi-Platform Portfolio
Role Overview
Drove product strategy, operations, and financial oversight across diversified portfolio spanning dating, ecommerce, news, media, and social platforms. Scaled operations from solo contributor to 20-person cross-functional organisation whilst maintaining strategic control over product development, business operations, and financial performance.
Key Achievements
£7M company exit following strategic portfolio scaling and operational optimisation across multiple verticals
Scaled niche dating platform from £200K to £2.5M ARR whilst simultaneously managing portfolio growth
Led operations across 5+ platform verticals including ecommerce, news media, job networks, and social platforms
Pioneered freemium and gamification models years before mainstream adoption, creating sustainable revenue diversification
Managed international expansion to US, Canadian, and Australian markets representing 35% of total revenue
Strategic Innovation
Portfolio Strategy & Operations
Developed and executed product strategies across multiple verticals, identifying market opportunities and managing resource allocation between dating, ecommerce, news, social, and job platform properties. Led go-to-market strategies for each vertical whilst maintaining operational efficiency across the portfolio.
Financial Forecasting & Business Operations
Owned financial modelling, budget management, and operational forecasting across multi-platform portfolio. Managed vendor relationships, operational budgets, and strategic partnerships whilst preparing comprehensive financial documentation for successful company acquisition.
Cross-Platform Audience Development
Created audience expansion strategies that leveraged synergies between platform properties. Developed white-label network strategies, cross-platform user acquisition, and data sharing protocols that maximised user value across the entire portfolio ecosystem.
Technical Leadership
Tools & Platforms: Early design tools, MySQL, PHP, HTML/CSS, payment gateways, white-label systems, financial planning software
Methodologies: Early lean startup principles, portfolio management, financial modelling, cross-platform analytics, international expansion strategies, acquisition preparation
Business Strategy: Led product ideation, market research, competitive analysis, revenue optimisation, operational scaling, financial forecasting, and acquisition preparation across multiple industry verticals whilst managing day-to-day operations and team leadership.
The NSI Group, UK (2006-2016)
Head of Product & Growth
Multi-Product Music SaaS Platform
Role Overview
Led product strategy and execution for a lean 5-person product team, transforming a marketing agency into a comprehensive music industry SaaS platform. Managed full product lifecycle across B2B/B2C segments whilst scaling from MVP to market-competing unified platform.
Key Achievements
600% engagement uplift through industry-first API-driven onboarding reducing setup time from hours to less than 10 seconds
1.9× increase in MAUs within 6 months via unified multi-product platform strategy
Established "Monthly Active Products per User (MAPU)" as North Star Metric, achieving 60% improvement over 12 months
Significant MRR growth through tiered subscription and credit optimisation models
Strategic Innovation
Industry-First Onboarding Revolution
Diagnosed critical engagement problem (90% single-product usage) through comprehensive data analysis and user research. Designed API-driven solution integrating Spotify, SoundCharts, and social media APIs to auto-populate artist profiles and music catalogues, eliminating manual data entry friction.
Multi-Product Platform Strategy
Unified fragmented music services (distribution, publishing, promotion, royalties, analytics) into cohesive ecosystem. Built scalable subscription models with free full-feature tier, credit-based usage, and unlimited plans serving indie artists through to major labels.
Technical Leadership
Tools & Platforms: Figma, PostHog, Mixpanel, Looker, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Jira, Confluence, OpenAI API, Spotify API, Soundcharts API
Methodologies: Agile/Scrum delivery, Lean startup validation, A/B testing frameworks, OKR planning, API-first architecture
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered closely with 2-person engineering team, marketing stakeholders, and third-party API providers to deliver technical integrations whilst maintaining user-centric design principles.
Music Gateway, UK (2020-2025)
Head of Design & Project Management
Automotive SaaS and Agency Platform
Role Overview
Led design strategy and project delivery for proprietary vehicle stock and CMS platform whilst directing agency operations across 100+ client projects. Managed cross-functional teams of 10-15 across design, development, and marketing, overseeing both internal product development and external client delivery.
Key Achievements
Won global RFP for Audi/Volkswagen ME expansion against international competitors, leading complete platform re-architecture
Directed design agency operations delivering 100+ automotive client projects annually with streamlined processes
Implemented GDPR compliance framework across entire client portfolio, ensuring regulatory adherence for 100+ websites
40% reduction in client-reported bugs via improved design-to-development processes and quality assurance protocols
Halved design-to-development handoff time through standardised documentation and workflow optimisation
Strategic Innovation
Multi-Market Platform Architecture
Led international stakeholder workshops across UK, Germany, and Middle East to redesign proprietary CMS for global deployment. Orchestrated parallel development sprints enabling marketing, design, development, and localisation teams to work simultaneously on complex multi-currency, RTL-ready, multi-location platform overhaul.
Agency Operations Management
Established scalable design and project management processes for handling diverse automotive client portfolio. Created standardised workflows, quality assurance protocols, and client communication frameworks that improved delivery consistency and client satisfaction across 100+ concurrent projects.
Compliance & Risk Management
Proactively identified GDPR compliance gaps across client portfolio and led comprehensive implementation strategy. Developed documentation standards, privacy frameworks, and technical solutions ensuring regulatory compliance whilst maintaining operational efficiency.
Technical Leadership
Tools & Platforms: Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, proprietary CMS, MySQL, PHP, HTML/CSS, Google Analytics, project management systems
Methodologies: Hybrid agile/waterfall delivery, stakeholder workshop facilitation, multi-location team coordination, CI-compliant design systems, GDPR compliance frameworks
Cross-Functional Management: Directed design, development, marketing, and account management teams whilst coordinating with international stakeholders and maintaining client relationships across diverse automotive sector projects.
New Star Media, UK (2016-2020)
Director of Product Strategy & Design
Multi-Platform Portfolio
Role Overview
Drove product strategy, operations, and financial oversight across diversified portfolio spanning dating, ecommerce, news, media, and social platforms. Scaled operations from solo contributor to 20-person cross-functional organisation whilst maintaining strategic control over product development, business operations, and financial performance.
Key Achievements
£7M company exit following strategic portfolio scaling and operational optimisation across multiple verticals
Scaled niche dating platform from £200K to £2.5M ARR whilst simultaneously managing portfolio growth
Led operations across 5+ platform verticals including ecommerce, news media, job networks, and social platforms
Pioneered freemium and gamification models years before mainstream adoption, creating sustainable revenue diversification
Managed international expansion to US, Canadian, and Australian markets representing 35% of total revenue
Strategic Innovation
Portfolio Strategy & Operations
Developed and executed product strategies across multiple verticals, identifying market opportunities and managing resource allocation between dating, ecommerce, news, social, and job platform properties. Led go-to-market strategies for each vertical whilst maintaining operational efficiency across the portfolio.
Financial Forecasting & Business Operations
Owned financial modelling, budget management, and operational forecasting across multi-platform portfolio. Managed vendor relationships, operational budgets, and strategic partnerships whilst preparing comprehensive financial documentation for successful company acquisition.
Cross-Platform Audience Development
Created audience expansion strategies that leveraged synergies between platform properties. Developed white-label network strategies, cross-platform user acquisition, and data sharing protocols that maximised user value across the entire portfolio ecosystem.
Technical Leadership
Tools & Platforms: Early design tools, MySQL, PHP, HTML/CSS, payment gateways, white-label systems, financial planning software
Methodologies: Early lean startup principles, portfolio management, financial modelling, cross-platform analytics, international expansion strategies, acquisition preparation
Business Strategy: Led product ideation, market research, competitive analysis, revenue optimisation, operational scaling, financial forecasting, and acquisition preparation across multiple industry verticals whilst managing day-to-day operations and team leadership.
The NSI Group, UK (2006-2016)
now playing: Product & design showcase
Watch a short video showcase of some of the products and brands I have been hands-on with in terms of design.
Everything
Web
App
Branding
Motion
Hire Me
Ready to discuss how strategic product leadership can drive your business goals? Then let's get in touch.
Hire Me
Ready to discuss how strategic product leadership can drive your business goals? Then let's get in touch.