John Rettie

1997-Date                      Freelance                                   Santa Barbara, CA

Owner

·    Writer/Photographer supplying features to automotive magazines and web sites.

·    Consultant on automotive public relations.

·    Consultant and writer covering digital photography and computer industry.

2000–2001                     jdpower.com                                       Encino, CA

Director, Auto Content

·    Responsible for creating consumer information in the automotive vertical.

·    Identified content requirements.

·    Assessed and chose content providers and aggregators.

·    Negotiated co-branding and licensing deals.

·    Developed content for internally sourced JDPA information.

·    Worked with technology team to integrate content.

·    Managed products end-to-end from inception through deployment.

·    Developed and wrote proprietary editorial content.

1988–1997                     J.D. Power and Associates            Agoura Hills, CA

Editorial Director

·    Managed publication of several trade newsletters.

·    Developed and launched consumer Car-Buying CD-ROM.

·    Created the first jdpower.com web site.

·    Helped launch daily fax and monthly sales report.

·    Heavily involved in joint ventures with Hearst Publishing and the BBC.

·    Managed four employees in publications department.

1986–1988                     Ward’s Communications                       Detroit, MI

West Coast Bureau Chief

·    Developed editorial features and news for national automotive publications.

1977–1986                     Deitrich, Ober & Rettie, Inc.                Gardena, CA

President

·    Formed advertising and public relations agency with two partners.

·    Managed 4-8 employees, developed business relationships.

·    Major clients included BFGoodrich, Chevrolet, Cosworth, British School of Motor Racing.

1983–1985                     Meyer’s Publishing               North Hollywood, CA

Editor

·    Editor (part-time) of two auto trade magazines.

1977–1979                     Wright Publishing                         Costa Mesa, CA

Technical Editor

·    Produced editorial features and news stories for Hot VWs magazine.

1973–1986                     freelancer                                            UK and CA

Freelance Photojournalist

·    Wrote and photographed editorial features for numerous magazines in US and overseas covering every aspect of the automotive industry from motorsports to dealers. Traveled the world covering events, visiting auto factories, auto shows, road testing new cars, etc.

1973–1985                     JGR Plastics                                                  UK

Owner

·    Designed and built a cowl for VW Beetle. Put into production and sold retail via mail and wholesale to Performance shops in UK.

1971–1973                     Wyse Publishing                            Cirencester, UK

Editorial Assistant

·    Helped produce editorial features for enthusiast VW Motoring magazine.

1967–1970                     Leeds University                                   Leeds, UK

·    Studied Civil Engineering.

1994, 2004-05 President of Motor Press Guild (Los Angeles based group of auto professionals).

Photography, travel, cars, auto racing, computers, electronics, DIY home/yard.