Electrify hires former YouTube exec Patrick Walker, ex-Vice Studios VP Al Brown

Patrick Walker (left) and Al Brown

London-based media and entertainment company Electrify has appointed former YouTube exec Patrick Walker as chief strategy officer and ex-Vice Studios VP Al Brown as exec VP of creative and editorial.

Electrify partners with creator-founders to build “enduring knowledge and entertainment brands.” Its brands include Veritasium, fern, Mentour Pilot, Astrum, Fireship and The Rundown AI.

Walker previously served as MD for EMEA at YouTube and director of media partnerships for EMEA at Facebook.

In his new role, he will lead three connected areas: finding and bringing in the next generation of creator-founded media brands; developing new platform, distribution and licensing opportunities beyond YouTube; and working directly with creators to build bigger, longer-lasting businesses around their audiences and IP.

He will also lead Electrify’s relationships with platforms and distribution partners as the company explores opportunities across streaming, connected television and other forms of distribution.

Brown spent more than a decade at Vice, where he became VP of programming for Vice Studios UK and executive produced series including State of Undress and Gaycation. He later oversaw development, commissioning and distribution at Future Studios before becoming head of content at Independent Studio.

At Electrify, Brown will work closely with creators and teams across its media brands, strengthening existing channels and formats while identifying new creative opportunities, developing original formats and exploring where established audience relationships can open up new entertainment and original IP.

The appointments coincide with the launch of InGenius, a series of longform films from Veritasium exploring the hidden systems that shape money, markets, geopolitics and power. The project will initially be hosted by Latif Nasse (Netflix’s Connected/Radiolab co-host).

Electrify was founded by Ian Shepherd, Owen Maher and Justin Reizes. Shepherd previously held senior roles at Disney, Universal Music and WarnerMedia.