Erik Huggers, the BBC’s director of Future Media & Technology, is leaving the corporation to become vice president and general manager of Intel’s Digital Home Group. The departure will see the directorate split into two with John Linwood becoming CTO of a new Technology division and Ralph Rivera named as director of Future Media.
“Erik Huggers’ proven track record of managing a variety of digital media businesses will be an extraordinary asset to Intel’s digital home initiative,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. “Erik’s background and vision for delivering new platforms, interactive content and services to consumers are an outstanding fit for Intel, and I am thrilled to welcome such a talented person to drive this key strategic business for Intel. We look forward to him joining our team.”
Huggers joined the BBC in 2007, becoming director of Future Media in August 2008 after the departure of Ashley Highfield to Project Kangaroo. He was responsible for the BBC’s output on the internet, interactive TV, mobile, broadband (including the BBC iPlayer) and also sat on the BBC’s executive board.
Prior to the BBC, Huggers led global business development for Windows Media Technologies. Before joining Microsoft, he worked with Endemol Entertainment as director of business development for its interactive division.
In an email sent to all BBC staff, director-general Mark Thompson said: “Erik is the key architect for a radical refocusing of BBC Online as part of our proposals for Delivering Quality First, which we will be announcing in due course. He also presided over significant technology projects such as W1, BBC North and Fabric and has chaired the YouView consortia to the point where it was incorporated as a joint venture. He has been a dynamic and inspiring colleague and I wish him all the best with his new role at Intel.
Rivera’s responsibility will of course include the BBC iPlayer and he will sit on the executive board. A relatively new recruit to the BBC, Rivera joined the BBC in November from as director of digital media from Major League Gaming in New York. He was previously at AOL responsible for gaming and the ISP’s Hispanic business.
The new technology division will have a remit across production, broadcast, connectivity and enterprise support. The division will be a part of the operations group under the supervision of chief operating officer Caroline Thomson. Linwood will retain his responsibility for information and archives.