Matty Simmons is a former newspaper reporter for the New York World-Telegram and Sun, and Executive Vice President of Diner's Club, the first credit card company. Simmons gained his greatest fame while serving as the chief executive officer of Twenty First Century Communications.
Founded in 1967 by Simmons and fellow Diner's Club refugee Len Mogel, Twenty First Century was created to publish a "counterculture" magazine called Cheetah. While Cheetah failed, the partners had more success with Weight Watchers Magazine and National Lampoon magazine in the 1970s. Under Simmons' direction, National Lampoon expanded into radio, theater, records and film.
A Brooklyn, New York native, he also produced the movie, National Lampoon's Animal House and continues to write movies and television shows working for the new company that owns the National Lampoon name.