BBC, Microsoft alum Erik Huggers to take over as chairman of UK’s Everyone TV

Former BBC and Microsoft exec Erik Huggers has been appointed as the new chairman of Everyone TV, the company responsible for running the UK’s free TV platforms Freeview and Freesat.

Erik Huggers

Huggers will provide leadership and direction to Everyone TV’s board of directors, drawn from its member organisations the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

He succeeds Caroline Thomson, who is stepping down after more than a decade at the company.

“I’m looking forward to help shape the next phase of free TV in the UK,” said Huggers. “As the worlds of tech and entertainment increasingly converge, it’s imperative that the distribution of free TV adapts.”

Huggers spent eight years as a senior director at Microsoft before joining the BBC in 2007, leading the launch of streaming platform BBC iPlayer. He has also held senior positions at Intel, Verizon and Vevo.

Everyone TV has rebranded and put in place a new leadership team under CEO Jonathan Thompson to focus on the evolution of free TV in the streaming age.