Maker Studios hires UK MD

YouTube multi-channel network Maker Studios has appointed a former Vice Media, Yahoo! and Bebo/AOL exec as MD of its UK business.

Dan’l Hewitt joins Maker Studios, which is in the process of being bought by the Walt Disney Company, to oversee commercial and brand partnerships, extend and nurture the pool of UK-based talent and broaden Maker Studios’ network reach.

The digital media exec will report to René Rechtman, Maker’s president of international, in the newly created London-based role.

Hewitt brings to Maker more than 15 years of senior management experience in the digital media industry, having held senior positions at Yahoo!, Bebo/AOL and DemandMedia. More recently, Hewitt co-founded Voower, a marketplace for native advertising.

Hewitt’s appointment follows the recent hire of Elena Koudreiko as business director, international. Koudreiko, also based in Maker’s recently opened overseas headquarters in London, joined from AOL’s branded entertainment division.

“Dan’l’s proven experience in building brand partnerships and solutions that support and encourage creative output will prove invaluable as we continue to build our global company,” said Rechtman.

Maker, which describes itself as the world’s largest provider of online video content for millennials, has more than 5.5 billion monthly video views and 380 million subscribers.