Pluto TV hires Spotify content boss

US-based OTT service Pluto TV, which counts European satcaster Sky among its investors, has poached the chief content officer at music streamer Spotify.

Former Spotify exec Ken Parks

Ken Parks becomes executive chairman at the start-up, which launched in 2014 and organises online video content into themed channels across mainstream and niche subjects.

Parks has helped Sweden-based Spotify grow its business in the US since 2007 and was the company’s first US employee.

Having served as an advisor to Pluto TV since 2014, Parks will now lead the company’s content, distribution and monetization efforts.

He will be based in New York and open an east coast office, but will also spend time at Pluto’s headquarters in LA.

“The timing is perfect for Pluto TV to reach massive global scale and become one of the premier consumer video platforms in the world,” said Parks.

“The addition of a world-class executive like Ken Parks to Pluto TV is a transformative moment for our company,” said Pluto TV CEO Tom Ryan.

“Ken’s experience in building a successful global entertainment service will be invaluable to us as we capitalize on our strong momentum to rapidly grow Pluto TV.”

Sky invested US$1m in the video aggregator in November last year, having already put half that amount into the business the month before.