About Me

Building Products and Bridging Gaps

I am a Chief Product Officer with a technical background and a drive for turning complex technology into tangible business results. I specialize in bridging the gap between engineering teams and business strategy, particularly in high-growth B2B environments. My work focuses on product strategy, AI/ML integration, and building scalable organizations.

At Bright River, I led the product strategy that increased ARR by 36% and helped implement AI solutions that automated over 300,000 internal work hours every year. Whether I am refining pricing strategies or managing a global product portfolio, my goal is always to deliver customer-centric solutions that actually move the needle.

Personal Life Beyond the Screen

When I'm not working on product roadmaps, team development, or machine learning, I lean into more tactile and analog pursuits.

The Analog and the Slow

I have a deep appreciation for the technologies of the past. While these technologies were advanced for the time they now work to slow down my mind and focus more on the moment. You can often find me:

  • Experimenting with analog photography specifically 120 (Mamiya RB67) and 35mm film (Olympus OM-2n).
  • Writing with my typewriters (Olympia SM3 and Olympia Traveller De Luxe).
  • Exploring my interests in history, mythology, and philosophy.

Check out more of my work here.

Games and Movement

I enjoy a good challenge, whether it is chess, euchre, cribbage, or a game of Magic: The Gathering. I like to spend some of my free time outdoors. I love walking, hiking, and simply being out in nature (sometimes with a camera in hand).

Skills and Competencies

While I spend most of my time in strategy and leadership my foundation is built on technical competencies that ground me in reality.

  • Methodologies: Agile, OKR frameworks, and End-to-End Product Lifecycle Management.
  • Specialties: AI/ML Integration, Workforce Automation, and B2B Portfolio Management.
  • Leadership: Cross-functional team leadership and scaling global product organizations.

What I Do and Where I’ve Been

How I approach product

I believe that great products are built at the intersection of technical feasibility and genuine business value. My background is rooted in acting as a translator between complex engineering requirements and high level strategic goals.

Strategy and execution

I focus on more than just shipping features. I look at the entire lifecycle, from defining a vision to refining pricing and packaging strategies that actually resonate with the market. Whether it is scaling a B2B portfolio or managing global teams, I prioritize data driven decisions and customer centric development.

AI and automation

A large part of my recent work involves making AI and Machine Learning practical. I have led initiatives that moved these technologies out of the "experimental" phase and into core products, focusing on how they can solve real operational bottlenecks.

Professional Experience

Driving Impact and Vision

Chief Product Officer

Bright River ---- Haarlem, Netherlands ---- June 2023 to present

I focus on making high-level strategy feel tangible. My work has helped grow ARR by 36% and improved our speed to market by 20%. I also lead the AI initiatives that automated over 300,000 internal work hours every year.

Head of Product

Bright River ---- Haarlem, Netherlands ---- March 2022 to June 2023

I spent my time focusing on the interfacing between larger business goals and daily development. Through OKR frameworks and detailed project planning I kept our teams responsive and drove changes in our pricing and packaging to better fit our customers.

Product Owner (Machine Learning)

Bright River ---- Haarlem, Netherlands ---- May 2019 to March 2022

While I started at Bright River first through advanced scripting automation I moved on to building our very first machine learning (ML) and data teams from scratch. We proved early on that AI was more than a buzzword by effectively reducing manual processing in our core workflows by 40%.

Director of Imaging and Workflow Automation

Bright River ---- New York City, New York ---- November 2015 to May 2019

This was where I really leaned into the "how" of high volume production. Based in New York, I spent my time figuring out how to deliver over 10,000 images every single day by streamlining technical specs and implementing automation scripts. I focused on making our onboarding process faster and more accurate while advising clients on how to align their photography with our digital workflows.

Scaling Visual Production

Imaging Specialist Supervisor

OneKreate ---- Baltimore, Maryland ---- Oct 2013 to Jun 2015

I led the post production team for Under Armour ecommerce. This was where I first found my strong interest in processes and workflows. By building custom analysis tools and restructuring our vendor relationships, I managed to cut the cost per image by 57% and boosted our in house delivery by 160%.

Digital Imaging Specialist

OneKreate ---- Baltimore, Maryland ---- Sep 2008 to Jun 2015

This was my in the trenches era, focusing on the technical side of retouching for brands like Walmart, Office Depot, and the Miami Heat. It was all about maintaining perfect consistency across web and print through strict calibration and technical precision.

Contact and Connect

I am always interested in discussing product strategy, technology, fun projects, or the best place to find film in the Netherlands.

  • Direct: Email Me
  • LinkedIn: davidrhartman
  • Location: Haarlem, NL
  • Sponsorship: No work or visa sponsorship required.

For the full breakdown and list of work responsibilities you can refer to my Product CV.