Erik Huggers Explained

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] Endemol,[2] [1] the BBC, and at OnCue, Intel's Internet TV effort that was acquired by Verizon.

Early life and education

Huggers hails from the Netherlands.[3]

Career

Microsoft and Endemol

Huggers has worked in managerial roles at Microsoft and Endemol.[2] [1]

BBC

Huggers joined the BBC in May 2007, and was appointed director of the future, media and technology arm in August 2008, replacing Ashley Highfield.[4] [5] 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 people for his macho attitude, leading to many being happy to see him leave.[6]

Huggers was also the subject of controversy when he submitted reimbursement requests for taxi rides for thousands of pounds, including £639 for a single day of taxi rides.[7] [8]

Huggers' departure was announced in January 2011,[4] [5] and his role was split into two, with John Linwood taking over technology and Ralph Rivera taking over digital media.[6]

Intel (OnCue) and Verizon

After leaving the BBC, Huggers became corporate vice-president and general manager of the digital home group of chip maker Intel.[4] In that role, he led OnCue, Intel's Internet TV effort.[9] [10]

In January 2014, it was announced that Verizon was acquiring OnCue, and Huggers would become a senior vice president at Verizon.[11] [12] [13]

Vevo

In late April, 2015, it was announced that Huggers was joining video hosting service Vevo as CEO, taking over from Rio Caraeff, Vevo's founding CEO, who left at the end of 2014.[1] [2] [14] Huggers worked from Vevo's New York City headquarters.[3]

In his role as CEO, Huggers initially planned to focus on launching a paid subscription.[15] However, he deferred that goal in order to focus on international expansion of its localized website and apps, to better cater to the 80% of its users who were accessing its content from outside the United States (mostly through partners such as YouTube).[16] [3] Huggers identified as one of his main challenges making people aware of and engaged with the Vevo brand directly; as of now the majority of views of Vevo videos happen on the YouTube platform.[3]

On December 15, 2017, Vevo announced that Huggers was resigning as CEO, and Alan Price, the CFO, would be interim CEO while the Board was looking for a replacement. Price had played a similar role of interim CEO after the departure of founding CEO Rio Caraeff.[17] [18] [19]

Notes and References

  1. Vevo Names Erik Huggers CEO. Spangler. Todd. Variety. April 30, 2015. August 20, 2017.
  2. Web site: Vevo Appoints Erik Huggers as New CEO. April 30, 2015. August 20, 2017. Billboard.
  3. News: Erik Huggers of Vevo on capturing audiences in a crowded market. The music video streaming service wants to convince teenagers to pay. Nicolau. Anna. February 26, 2017. August 20, 2017. Financial Times.
  4. News: Erik Huggers to leave BBC for Intel. Director of future, media and technology will join US computer firm as corporate vice-president. Halliday. Josh. January 18, 2011. August 20, 2017. The Guardian.
  5. News: Erik Huggers on changing the BBC. Financial Times. January 24, 2011. August 20, 2017. Bradshaw. Tim.
  6. News: 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?. Kiss. Jemima. January 21, 2011. August 20, 2017. The Guardian.
  7. News: 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. Addley. Esther. February 9, 2010. August 20, 2017. The Guardian.
  8. News: 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. August 20, 2017.
  9. Web site: Intel is building an Internet TV service with a camera-sporting set-top box; platform to launch within a year. Protalinski. Emil. February 12, 2013. August 20, 2017. The Next Web.
  10. News: Intel plans online TV service as PC chip sales wane. Randewich. Noel. Grover. Ronald. February 12, 2013. August 20, 2017. Reuters.
  11. Verizon Buys Intel Media And OnCue Creating A Large Opportunity. Forbes. Moorhead. Patrick. January 21, 2014. August 20, 2017.
  12. Web site: Inside OnCue: The story behind Verizon's Internet TV acquisition. March 19, 2014. August 20, 2017. The Next Web. Sawers. Paul.
  13. News: Verizon Ramps Up In TV, Buys Troubled OnCue And The Rest Of Intel Media From Intel. Lunden. Ingrid. January 21, 2014. August 20, 2017. TechCrunch.
  14. Web site: 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.. Kafka. Peter. April 29, 2015. August 20, 2017. Recode.
  15. Web site: CAN VEVO FIND A MODEL THAT WORKS – AND MAKE THE MUSIC BUSINESS RICH?. Ingham. Tim. Music Business Worldwide. November 22, 2016. August 20, 2017.
  16. Vevo to Postpone Subscription Launch, Focus on International Expansion. Roettgers. Janko. February 7, 2017. August 20, 2017. Variety.
  17. Web site: VEVO ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION. December 15, 2017. December 16, 2017. Vevo.
  18. Web site: Erik Huggers is stepping down as CEO of Vevo. Ha. Anthony. December 15, 2017. December 16, 2017.
  19. Web site: Erik Huggers resigns as CEO of Vevo. December 15, 2017. December 16, 2017. Business Digit.

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