As founders, Gilles Babinet and I are stepping up Eyeka’s international development in Europe. It is a turning point in our growth and a commitment to create value for our clients, our authors and our shareholders. Three leaders in their respective fields are joining Eyeka.
Sadek Chekroun takes over as CEO. Sadek was a key member of Pierre Chappaz Kelkoo which he joined in 2003 as Managing Director in France. After the acquisition of Kelkoo by Yahoo, he became Vice President Europe of the e-Commerce Business Unit. He brings a great expertise in managing an internet marketplace. Simon Guild and Bruno Massiet du Biest join our board as Non Executive members. Until recently, Simon was Chief Executive of MTV Networks Europe with direct responsibility for seven European business units. He will contribute creating and evaluating strategic options in each European market He will also add incredible expertise in content and rights management. Bruno Massiet du Biest also joins our Board. He is the founder and CEO of 118 218 (Le Numero/The number). 118 218 achieved leadership in market share (45%) both in awareness and in quality of service. Bruno managed a 60 mm€ gross marketing campaign, strongly inspired by the UK’s success in that same field. He brings his marketing know-how in consumer marketing and his expertise in growing start-ups.
More on Kelkoo in Julien’s book
More on Eyeka Corp
Eyeka’s Press release hereunder.
Sadek Chekroun Joins Eyeka as Chief Executive Officer
Simon Guild and Bruno Massiet du Biest join board of directors
Paris, April 19th 2007 – Eyeka, an online publisher and syndicator of video and photos, today announced the appointment of Sadek Chekroun, former vice president of e-commerce at Yahoo! Europe as CEO. His first task will be to further Eyeka’s white-label and Eyeka-branded strategy through deals with media partners, mobile phone operators and brands.
“Gilles and I welcome Sadek to the team,” said Franck Perrier, co-founder of Eyeka and director of business development. “His expertise in terms of international development and his track record in larges companies as well as start-ups such as Kelkoo rounds out our management team.”
Mr. Chekroun’s arrival strengthens a seasoned managerial team including Franck Perrier, director of business development and co-founder, Claire Leproust, director of marketing and content, Yves Languepin, CTO and Gilles Babinet, chairman and co-founder.
“Eyeka is rapidly becoming a market leader thanks to its carefully edited content and policy of revenue-sharing with authors,” commented Mr. Chekroun. “I wanted to be a part of an visionary organization that radically transforms the concept of content-sharing community platforms by distributing content that carries strong editorial values.”
Eyeka also announced today the addition of two non-executive board members: Simon Guild, former chairman and CEO of MTV Networks Europe, and Bruno Massiet du Biest, the CEO of French phone directory company 118218 Le Numéro. They join Nenad Marovac, founder and managing partner of DN Capital, Eric Huet, general partner, Ventech, as well as Gilles Babinet and Sadek Chekroun and will provide support and advice to the managerial team regarding strategic choices and will help with the development of the development of the European market.
About Eyeka
Eyeka offers a new-generation platform on the Web and on mobile phones for promotion and distribution. Eyeka showcases audiovisual and photographic creative works uploaded by amateurs and self-produced professionals. It promotes and syndicates them to traditional and new media and distribute royalties. Eyeka offers its technology under white-label contracts as well as its contents to media, mobile phone operators and other brands for their Web-TVs or mobile TVs. For more information, please visit www.eyeka.com.
Gilles and I in San Francisco during our Valley tour in may 2005