Verizon Digital Media Services CRO Ralf Jacob will take over as president of the unit, following the move of longtime Verizon executive Bob Toohey to the conglomerate’s AOL division.
Toohey, who joined Verizon back in 2001, has been named executive VP of AOL, which was purchased last year by Verizon for $4.4 billion. Stepping into his place at Verizon’s active media services unit will be Jacob, who joined the Verizon after it acquired streaming video company upLynk in 2013.
Jacob’s resume includes a helpful stint as VP of digital media at rival media services shop Deluxe Digital Studios.
Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS) reps didn’t immediately respond to FierceCable’s inquiry for comment.
However, in an interview with Broadcasting and Cable, Jacob said, “Verizon corporate has looked at the trends and successes of VDMS, grabbing more and more market share, and said that with the acquisitions of Yahoo and AOL, it was time for Bob to take the helm of something else. And Bob said we needed someone who knows the industry and has the technical background and knowhow to step in and continue his legacy. That’s why I’m entering in.”
VDMS has become one of the busier shops for programmers and operators looking to deliver video over the top and onto mobile devices. In fact, Verizon uses the shop rather extensively for its own mobile video efforts.
In June, Verizon confirmed that it had completely moved its Go90 video service onto its Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS) platform.
Analysts from Wall Street firm Jefferies said they met with Verizon CFO Fran Shammo recently, and that Shammo said the company moved Go90 onto VDMS in order to address "early technical issues." Verizon confirmed the move to FierceCable.
"The move to the VDMS platform helps Go90 become more open and expand reach," a Verizon spokesperson told FierceCable. "This will give us the flexibility to still be mobile first, but not mobile only. We will be activating across every screen with mobile, web and screen casting."
For more:
- read this Broadcasting & Cable story
- read this Telecompaper story
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