YouTube Gets New Content, TV/Film Leaders, Snags Netflix Acquisitions VP

YouTube announced a couple of new additions to its team. Neither are Feross Aboukhadijeh, the creator of YouTube Instant, who was recently offered a job by the company.

He told us the other day, "I haven’t actually accepted the YouTube offer yet. We’re still figuring out how this is all going to work out, and nothing’s final yet. However, [CEO] Chad [Hurley] and the engineers I spoke with were excited about the possibilities."

The new additions are a bit higher up in the chain of command than Aboukhadijeh would be, I suspect. One is a new Global Head of Content, and the other is a new Global Head of TV and Film Entertainment. YouTube co-head Salar Kamangar introduces them:

Dean Gilbert is joining us as YouTube’s new Global Head of Content and will oversee our global content team as we work to expand our existing relationships and forge new ones. A veteran of the cable industry, Dean’s leadership roles have included serving as Executive Vice President and General Manager of @ Home Network. Over the last four years, Dean has provided leadership at Google across across a wide range of media products, including Google TV, YouTube and Google TV Ads.

Robert Kyncl is joining us as our new Global Head of TV and Film Entertainment. Robert comes to YouTube from Netflix, where he was Vice President of Content Acquisitions, spearheading the company’s content acquisition strategy for streaming TV shows and movies over the Internet. He was also instrumental in transitioning Netflix’s business from DVD-by-mail to streaming. In his new role, Robert will build our content partner presence in Hollywood, overseeing our content partnerships across the studios, broadcasters, cable networks, talent agencies and new media companies. Chris Maxcy will continue his executive leadership role as Global Head of Music and Games, focusing on our global music business.

The Kyncl hiring is particularly interesting, raising questions about what this means for Netflix, who has been pretty impressive in its competition in the movie rental industry thus far. Competition in that space is heating up, and it will be interesting to see how the company’s strategy holds up with this change.

There are 2 Comments. Add Yours.

Tom Aikins
September 19, 2010 at 9:45 pm

Now that YouTube is going to be making a profit soon and Google’s social networking capability seems to be almost here, with YouTube certainly playing a big role in that, they’re getting even more serious. Watch out for Google in the future. My guess is that they are going to become even more dominant, not less.
Guest
September 20, 2010 at 8:06 pm

Very interesting move by YouTube, effectively a demotion / vote of no confidence for Chris Maxcy by splitting his job and putting Gilbert above him. Unsurprising for insiders who are aware of Chris’ passive aggressive style. Big job for Gilbert.