Erik Huggers
Erik Huggers is a media executive who most recently served as CEO of video hosting service Vevo.[1][2] He previously worked at Microsoft,[2][1][3] Endemol,[2][1][3] the BBC,[3] and at OnCue, Intel's internet television effort that was acquired by Verizon.[4]
Early life and education
Huggers hails from the Netherlands.[5]
Career
Microsoft and Endemol
Huggers has held managerial roles at Microsoft and Endemol.[2][1][3]
BBC
Huggers joined the BBC in May 2007, and was appointed director of future media and technology in August 2008, replacing Ashley Highfield.[3][6] During his time at the BBC, Huggers and his team refocused the BBC's online and technology strategy, launched iPlayer, and revamped the BBC's online presence. He was credited with bringing order amidst chaos and infighting, helped by his outside perspective, while causing discontent among some for his assertive attitude, leading many to welcome his departure.[7]
Huggers was also the subject of controversy due to reimbursement requests for taxi rides totaling thousands of pounds, including £639 for a single day's travel.[8][9]
Huggers' departure was announced in January 2011,[3][6] and his role was divided, with John Linwood taking over technology and Ralph Rivera taking over digital media.[7]
Intel (OnCue) and Verizon
Following his departure from the BBC, Huggers became corporate vice president and general manager of the digital home group at chip maker Intel.[3] In this role, he led OnCue, Intel's internet television venture.[10][11]
In January 2014, Verizon acquired OnCue, and Huggers became a senior vice president at Verizon.[4][12][13]
Vevo
In late April 2015, Huggers joined video hosting service Vevo as CEO, succeeding Rio Caraeff, who left at the end of 2014.[1][2][14] He worked out of Vevo's New York City headquarters.[5]
As CEO, Huggers initially planned to focus on a paid subscription service.[15] However, he prioritized international expansion of localized websites and apps to better serve the majority of users outside the United States (primarily through partnerships like YouTube).[16][5] Huggers also recognized the challenge of establishing brand awareness and engagement directly; the majority of Vevo views occurred on the YouTube platform.[5]
On December 15, 2017, Vevo announced that Huggers was stepping down as CEO, with Alan Price, the CFO, taking over as interim CEO while the Board searched for a replacement. Price previously served as interim CEO after the departure of founding CEO Rio Caraeff.[17][18][19]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Spangler, Todd (April 30, 2015). "Vevo Names Erik Huggers CEO". Variety. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Vevo Appoints Erik Huggers as New CEO". Billboard. April 30, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Halliday, Josh (January 18, 2011). "Erik Huggers to leave BBC for Intel. Director of future, media and technology will join US computer firm as corporate vice-president". The Guardian. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Moorhead, Patrick (January 21, 2014). "Verizon Buys Intel Media And OnCue Creating A Large Opportunity". Forbes. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Nicolau, Anna (February 26, 2017). "Erik Huggers of Vevo on capturing audiences in a crowded market. The music video streaming service wants to convince teenagers to pay". Financial Times. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bradshaw, Tim (January 24, 2011). "Erik Huggers on changing the BBC". Financial Times. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kiss, Jemima (January 21, 2011). "BBC Future Media: What is Erik Huggers' legacy? Huggers can take credit for destroying the culture of chaos and feuding in the BBC's technology wing, insiders say. But what now?". The Guardian. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Addley, Esther (February 9, 2010). "How do you spend £639 on a taxi? Ask the BBC's technology chief. Silicon Valley and Las Vegas provide backdrop for limousine journeys by BBC whizz behind the iPlayer". The Guardian. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ "Three BBC executives spend £12,000 on taxis. A trio of BBC executives ran up more than £12,000 in taxi claims on expenses between them in a three-month period, new figures showed". The Daily Telegraph. April 20, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Protalinski, Emil (February 12, 2013). "Intel is building an Internet TV service with a camera-sporting set-top box; platform to launch within a year". The Next Web. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Randewich, Noel; Grover, Ronald (February 12, 2013). "Intel plans online TV service as PC chip sales wane". Reuters. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Sawers, Paul (March 19, 2014). "Inside OnCue: The story behind Verizon's Internet TV acquisition". The Next Web. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Lunden, Ingrid (January 21, 2014). "Verizon Ramps Up In TV, Buys Troubled OnCue And The Rest Of Intel Media From Intel". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Kafka, Peter (April 29, 2015). "Former Intel Web TV Boss Erik Huggers Is Vevo's New CEO. His old job -- trying to launch a Web TV service -- was hard. This one will be, too". Recode. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Ingham, Tim (November 22, 2016). "CAN VEVO FIND A MODEL THAT WORKS – AND MAKE THE MUSIC BUSINESS RICH?". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Roettgers, Janko (February 7, 2017). "Vevo to Postpone Subscription Launch, Focus on International Expansion". Variety. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ "VEVO ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION". Vevo. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ↑ Ha, Anthony (December 15, 2017). "Erik Huggers is stepping down as CEO of Vevo". Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ↑ "Erik Huggers resigns as CEO of Vevo". Business Digit. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
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