Daniel Danker, the public face of the BBC iPlayer, is leaving the corporation to join Shazam as chief product officer.
In his new role Danker’s brief will be to lead the expansion of the audio recognition service that has been developing links with the TV sector in the United States and the UK.
“I am incredibly excited about my new role as Shazam’s chief product officer,” said Danker. “Producing one of the most-downloaded apps of all time, Shazam has built its reputation on providing people with a discovery experience for music and television that sets the standard. I look forward to using my experience at Microsoft and the BBC to help Shazam create engaging products that delight.”
Danker has been general manager of programmes and on demand since 2010. In addition to the iPlayer his work has also included iPlayer Radio and Red Button, including the new connected version. Prior to this Danker helped to develop Mediaroom, Microsoft’s internet-connected TV platform, as well as Microsoft’s Xbox Music platform.
“Shazam is enjoying tremendous growth, including its successful expansion into television in the US, UK, Europe and Asia. With his unparalleled expertise in delivering some of the world’s leading digital experiences for consumers and broadcast partners, Daniel will significantly strengthen our leadership team. Together, we will continue to help consumers discover and engage with the world around them,” said Shazam CEO, Andrew Fisher.
Shazam for TV launched in 2011 in the United States; Shazam for TV advertising has launched in the UK, Western Europe and Asia.