Jeff Zheng is the founder and CEO of NewsBreak, a leading platform for local news and information in the United States. With a background that includes executive roles at Yahoo! and founding a unicorn start-up, Zheng has driven NewsBreak to become the most downloaded news app in the U.S. since its launch in 2015. His vision is to create the world's best AI-powered local-everything platform, enhancing local journalism and empowering communities.
Who is the CEO of NewsBreak?
Jeff Zheng, the CEO of NewsBreak, has a rich background in the tech industry. Before founding NewsBreak in 2015, he held executive roles at Yahoo!, where he led technical teams and advanced web search relevance and personalized content recommendation. Zheng also founded Yahoo! Labs in China, focusing on mobile search and discovery technology. His entrepreneurial journey includes founding Yidian, a Chinese news aggregation app, and growing it into a unicorn start-up.
At NewsBreak, Zheng has leveraged his expertise in AI and mobile technology to create a leading platform for local news, with a mission to enhance local journalism and empower communities.
Work History
Jeff Zheng's work history includes a series of impressive roles at various companies. Here is a detailed list of his previous positions:
- NewsBreak - Founder & CEO (2015 to Present)
- Yidianzixun - Founding CEO (2011 to 2015)
- Yahoo - Founding Head of Yahoo! Labs in China (2011)
- Yahoo - Senior Director, Head of Relevance Sciences (2009 to 2011)
- Yahoo - Director of Research (2006 to 2009)
- Yahoo - Sr. Relevance Scientist (2004 to 2006)
Education History
Jeff Zheng's educational journey is marked by a strong foundation in computer science and electrical engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University at Buffalo, where he studied from 2000 to 2004. Prior to that, he completed his Master's degree in Computer Science at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, between 1997 and 2000. His academic pursuits began at Tsinghua University, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, studying from 1992 to 1997. This robust educational background has undoubtedly contributed to his expertise and success in the tech industry.
When did Jeff Zheng join NewsBreak?
Jeff Zheng founded NewsBreak in April 2015, taking on the role of CEO from the very beginning. Since its inception, he has been at the helm of the company, guiding it to become a leading platform for local news and information in the United States. As of 2024, Zheng has been leading NewsBreak for approximately nine years, leveraging his extensive background in AI and mobile technology to drive the platform's success and innovation.