Tom Hayes (author)

In September 2015, Hayes was named Senior Vice President/Head of New Media at Paramount Pictures where he is responsible for new technology, new distribution, new content and new media talent.

In October 2014, Hayes launched Techmanity, Silicon Valley's inaugural technology and lifestyle event. Individuals and companies whose products and services are revolutionizing the world were celebrated during the two-day event. Featured speakers and attendees included actor, musician and tech entrepreneur, Jared Leto; Venture Capitalist, Tim Draper; Hollywood producer, Scooter Braun; Actor and humanitarian, Kellan Lutz; and California Lieutenant Governor, Gavin Newsom.

In 1992, Hayes founded and served as chairman and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, a public-private effort tasked with rebuilding Silicon Valley's struggling regional economy. The organization's work was the subject of the book, Grassroots Leaders for a New Economy. In 1996, Hayes pioneered what is widely considered to be the first online entertainment event - WEBSTOCK '96 - as "a combination TV show, rock concert and theme park." He joined forces with Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue, to combine the creative talents of MTV, Disney, Fox, and Nickelodeon for a 96-hour marathon event in conjunction with Rock the Vote and to benefit the charity, Do Something. Hayes also served as an executive at Applied Materials Inc. throughout most of the 1990s.

Hayes was born at Fort Benning near Columbus, Georgia, but grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts. He attended Lowell High School where, as a student in 1978, he led a campaign to construct a new building for the school. Hayes attended and graduated from Boston University.