Video content security specialist Friend MTS has appointed Jill Ezard as its chief people officer.
The company says Ezard will lead Friend MTS’s “cultural change” and will also run initiatives to introduce more effective ways of working. The creation of this new position follows the appointment of Simon Thornberry as Chief Operating Officer in February 2024 as Friend MTS continues to build out its executive team.
Shane McCarthy, Friend MTS CEO, commented, “Jill is an extraordinarily talented individual with a deep understanding of effective change management alongside a sharp business mind. Her ability to drive cultural change will be invaluable as we continue our transition to an agile, open, modern technology company and accelerate our growth while nurturing and deepening the trust between us and our customers.”
Ezard brings over 30 years’ experience in HR, most recently specialising in supporting leaders through significant change including executive coaching, strategy development and organisation design. Her previous roles include Chief HR Officer at Foundry and at Volex plc, and as Global Director of HR at Pace for seven years. At Foundry, a privately funded software firm, Jill drove company strategy with responsibility for reorganisation and cultural change, resulting in a refocus of the business that led to a successful sale.
“Having worked with Friend MTS in a consulting role for more than a year, I can see clearly how organisational alignment and refocus will help our talented and passionate team drive business growth across customers and markets as the company cements its position as the world leader in video anti-piracy,” said Ezard. “With a renewed focus on values, culture, learning and growth, I believe our team, customers and partners will see a positive impact on business decisions and relationships.”
Founded in 2000, Friend MTS is owned by private equity firm NorthEdge and has offices around the world.
