Pay-TV industry vet John Smith has joined multiscreen specialist Clearleap as vice president, new market development, where he will head up the multiscreen specialist’s growth strategy.
Smith, most recently the SVP of North American sales at Vubuiquity, comes on board following a $20 million “C” round of funding that Clearleap will tap into to aid in its international expansion and an overall growth plan that aims to more than double the company's size. Founded in 2007, Clearleap has raised about $36 million so far, and achieved profitability over a year ago, CEO Braxton Jarratt said last November.
Smith, who reports to Jarratt, spent the last 13 years at Vubiquity/Avail-TVN. Before that, he was vice president of sales for In Demand, a Clearleap partner that is owned by Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks.
Atlanta-based Clearleap opened up an office in Amsterdam last year to spearhead its expansion into Europe. The company is also in the process of setting up shop in Latin America.
"John is joining the company at a pivotal moment in our growth, and his deep experience in the telecommunications industry makes him an ideal choice to lead our continued market expansion and further cement our reputation as a leader in the Pay TV space,” Jarratt said, in a statement.
"Clearleap has been a true pioneer in the television industry, and they are helping to ease the complexities that come with multiscreen deployment. I'm looking forward to working closely with the management team to successfully expand Clearleap’s existing footprint,” Smith added.
Alongside In Demand, other announced Clearleap customers include HBO, Verizon Communications, Time Warner Cable, the Food Network, and Travel Channel.
