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Bebo, one of the world�s largest social networking sites, announced today that technology and entertainment pioneer Kevin Bachus has signed on as its Chief Product Officer. Bachus, a long time executive and investor in video games and digital media, is best known as one of the founders and creators of Microsoft�s Xbox video game system.
Bebo will leverage his extensive knowledge and experience in the entertainment, interactive and software industries to spearhead new product development for the social network. �Bebo has a huge concentration of young people around the world whose likes and behaviors will ultimately reshape social experiences in the years ahead,� said Bachus. �I am excited to work with everyone at Bebo and directly with the users to extend the notion of a social network beyond what it is today.�
Bachus joins an executive team that includes recent high profile hires, CTO Akash Garg, a co-founder of leading social network hi5, and VP of Operations Aren Sandersen, a former executive on the founding team of Oodle, the online marketplace used by 15 million people each month and the engine behind Facebook Marketplace.
For Bebo, the move signals yet more evidence that its new owners, Criterion Capital Partners, are investing in the revitalization of the social network. Since it was purchased from AOL in June of 2010, Bebo has increased traffic and revenues, lowered expenses, added a host of new mobile partners around the globe and announced plans to make video content, mobile access and gaming three central components of its rebirth strategy. �Kevin�s unique experience and understanding of entertainment gives us an even greater ability to innovate and develop products based on what our users want� said Adam Levin, CEO of Bebo and Managing Director of Criterion Capital Partners.�
More on Kevin Bachus
One of the best-known and most highly respected executives in the video game industry and an active investor in the digital media sector, Kevin was one of the original group of four individuals at Microsoft Corporation who came up with the idea for the Xbox videogame system, an initiative that grew in part out of his role as group product manager for the DirectX family of Windows technologies.
As Microsoft�s first director of third-party relations for Xbox, Kevin secured support for Xbox from all major game publishers worldwide and created and managed the programs and processes that would ultimately lead to the strongest software line-up ever for the launch of a game console.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Kevin served in a number of business and production capacities at Mindscape, a video game industry pioneer. After leaving Microsoft, Kevin co-founded or served in an executive capacity at a number of innovative, venture-backed companies including Capital Entertainment Group, the video game industry�s first independent production company; Infinium Labs, a pioneer in the field of digital software distribution whose flagship product was a finalist for Best Hardware at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo; and Nival Interactive, the largest independent game developer in Eastern Europe.
Although he developed a number of games on his own during the industry's infancy, Kevin chose to attend the prestigious University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television where he majored in screenwriting and directing, before combining his two passions, technology and entertainment, in the field of interactive entertainment.
More about Bebo
Bebo is a social media network that combines community, connections, self-expression and entertainment via a range of social tools, games and a growing mobile platform. Bebo has 117 million registered users across the globe, including in the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Pakistan and the Netherlands. Bebo launched in 2005 and was acquired by AOL in March 2008 for $850 million before being purchased by Criterion Capital Partners in June of 2010.
Press Contact: Jason Damata 01+9172798706 Jason (at) fabricmedia (dot) net
Xbox CO-CREATOR KEVIN BACHUS JOINS BEBO AS CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER
September 9, 2010
Social Network Continues Building World Class Team with Addition of Xbox Co-CreatorBebo, one of the world�s largest social networking sites, announced today that technology and entertainment pioneer Kevin Bachus has signed on as its Chief Product Officer. Bachus, a long time executive and investor in video games and digital media, is best known as one of the founders and creators of Microsoft�s Xbox video game system.
Bebo will leverage his extensive knowledge and experience in the entertainment, interactive and software industries to spearhead new product development for the social network. �Bebo has a huge concentration of young people around the world whose likes and behaviors will ultimately reshape social experiences in the years ahead,� said Bachus. �I am excited to work with everyone at Bebo and directly with the users to extend the notion of a social network beyond what it is today.�
Bachus joins an executive team that includes recent high profile hires, CTO Akash Garg, a co-founder of leading social network hi5, and VP of Operations Aren Sandersen, a former executive on the founding team of Oodle, the online marketplace used by 15 million people each month and the engine behind Facebook Marketplace.
For Bebo, the move signals yet more evidence that its new owners, Criterion Capital Partners, are investing in the revitalization of the social network. Since it was purchased from AOL in June of 2010, Bebo has increased traffic and revenues, lowered expenses, added a host of new mobile partners around the globe and announced plans to make video content, mobile access and gaming three central components of its rebirth strategy. �Kevin�s unique experience and understanding of entertainment gives us an even greater ability to innovate and develop products based on what our users want� said Adam Levin, CEO of Bebo and Managing Director of Criterion Capital Partners.�
More on Kevin Bachus
One of the best-known and most highly respected executives in the video game industry and an active investor in the digital media sector, Kevin was one of the original group of four individuals at Microsoft Corporation who came up with the idea for the Xbox videogame system, an initiative that grew in part out of his role as group product manager for the DirectX family of Windows technologies.
As Microsoft�s first director of third-party relations for Xbox, Kevin secured support for Xbox from all major game publishers worldwide and created and managed the programs and processes that would ultimately lead to the strongest software line-up ever for the launch of a game console.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Kevin served in a number of business and production capacities at Mindscape, a video game industry pioneer. After leaving Microsoft, Kevin co-founded or served in an executive capacity at a number of innovative, venture-backed companies including Capital Entertainment Group, the video game industry�s first independent production company; Infinium Labs, a pioneer in the field of digital software distribution whose flagship product was a finalist for Best Hardware at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo; and Nival Interactive, the largest independent game developer in Eastern Europe.
Although he developed a number of games on his own during the industry's infancy, Kevin chose to attend the prestigious University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television where he majored in screenwriting and directing, before combining his two passions, technology and entertainment, in the field of interactive entertainment.
More about Bebo
Bebo is a social media network that combines community, connections, self-expression and entertainment via a range of social tools, games and a growing mobile platform. Bebo has 117 million registered users across the globe, including in the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Pakistan and the Netherlands. Bebo launched in 2005 and was acquired by AOL in March 2008 for $850 million before being purchased by Criterion Capital Partners in June of 2010.
Press Contact: Jason Damata 01+9172798706 Jason (at) fabricmedia (dot) net
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