As the streaming platform strives to develop into a “Next Generation Media Company,” Charlie Collier leaves Fox Corporation to join Roku (EXCLUSIVE)

Veteran TV executive Charlie Collier is leaving his position as CEO of Fox Entertainment to join the digital distribution platform as president of Roku Media, a harbinger of huge changes to come for Roku.

 

The fast-expanding number of free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels is hosted by the streaming platform, which also serves as a crucial distribution channel for Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+, and other subscription streamers. Collier will be in charge of managing advertising sales and content for the channels owned and operated by Roku.

 

Collier will begin working at Roku in late October, where he will be headquartered in New York.

 

The appointment of Collier occurs at the same time as other senior-level changes at Roku. Anthony Wood, the creator and CEO of Roku, has promoted Mustafa Ozgen and Gidon Katz to the position of president in his effort to build a “next-generation media firm.”

 

Both executives were senior vice presidents until Ozgen was promoted to president of devices at Roku and Katz to president of consumer experience. All three of Collier, Ozgen, and Katz work for Wood.

 

Charlie is the perfect candidate to assist us in seizing the opportunity, according to Wood. “There is a significant chance to further accelerate and grow Roku’s business as the streaming platform created for advertising,” he added. He is an experienced leader with a wealth of expertise, a history of growing firms, excellent creative instincts, partnerships with talent, and a history of boosting revenue and growth. He will be crucial in assisting us as a next-generation media organisation to succeed even more.

 

Wood also cited Roku’s emphasis on international expansion as a justification for the new operational alignment.

 

“These jobs will assist provide additional emphasis to critical areas of our business as Roku grows worldwide as the global trend to streaming continues,” Wood added. “Charlie, Mustafa, and Gidon bring to Roku substantial knowledge of the industry and leadership experience. As we continue to develop and strengthen our position, I am looking forward to working with them and their teams.

 

The action is being taken as Wall Street pressure mounts on Roku to address its drastically declining stock price. As of its Q2 earnings report, the digital distribution platform had an active user base of roughly 63.1 million, having risen significantly over the previous ten years.

 

Roku has attracted Hollywood’s interest as a distributor with a sizable national audience. Amid sector-wide worries that the growth of streaming platforms is slowing, particularly in the U.S., the company’s stock price has plunged after surging through much of 2021 — down roughly 74% for the year to date, closing Thursday at $60.89 per share.

 

Roku’s position as a distributor that has only recently entered the original content market, including its acquisition of Quibi’s programming assets last year, has made the company difficult for investors to evaluate on a fish-or-fowl basis. Collier’s hiring as a seasoned content developer and network programmer sends the strong signal that Wood is aware the business has reached a turning point.