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MIKE HOPKINS TO STEP DOWN AS CEO OF HULU; RANDY FREER TO SUCCEED HIM AS CEO
October 24, 2017
LOS ANGELES, CA (October 24, 2017) – Mike Hopkins, who as CEO of Hulu since 2013, has led the company through significant audience growth and the successful launch of Hulu with Live TV, will be leaving the company, and Randy Freer has been named CEO, the Hulu Board of Directors announced today. Freer, who currently serves on the Hulu Board, has been President and COO of Fox Networks Group since 2013. Freer will be based at Hulu’s headquarters in Los Angeles, and his appointment is effective Monday.
The Hulu Board said in a statement: “We want to thank Mike for his leadership in steering Hulu to its current era of growth and success. Randy has a unique knowledge of Hulu and expertise building consensus among its owners, and an excellent track record leading a complex organization at the nexus of the television business. There’s no better candidate to lead Hulu as it embarks on its next chapter.”
Freer said: “Hulu is at the center of transformation in entertainment. Hulu’s management team and employees have positioned Hulu to be a leader in defining the future of content creation, distribution and monetization – all while putting the viewer first. I’d like to thank Hulu’s Board for this exciting opportunity.”
“Leading Hulu for the past four years has been the single most meaningful experience of my career. It has been an enormous privilege to work with this vibrant, creative and fearless team to build Hulu into the success it is today,” said Hopkins. “I want to thank Rupert, Bob, James, Lachlan and the entire Hulu board for giving me this opportunity, and I am especially grateful to the more than 2,000 Hulugans who make Hulu such an inspiring place to be.”
Under Hopkins’ leadership, Hulu built its premium originals programming slate, which includes Golden Globe-nominated comedy Casual, fan favorites The Mindy Project and The Path, and breakout drama The Handmaid’s Tale, which recently won 8 of Hulu’s 10 Primetime Emmy Awards, including the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Hopkins also led the company’s expansion into the pay-TV space earlier this year with the launch of its groundbreaking live news, entertainment and sports package.
As President and COO of Fox Networks Group. Freer oversaw revenue, distribution, operations, business development and strategy for all aspects of the Fox Television Group, FX, FOX Sports and National Geographic Partners, and was responsible for rights acquisitions and team and league relationships on behalf of FOX Sports.
Prior to being named to his current position, Freer served as Co-President and COO, FOX Sports Media Group, where he focused on growing and enhancing FOX Sports’ prestigious portfolio of league, conference, and team media rights. In recent years, he oversaw the negotiations that led to long-term agreements with the National Football League, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, and the USGA, as well as with the Pac-12, Big 12, and Big East Conferences. Freer also played a significant role in Fox’s landmark acquisitions of the World Cup and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He also was at the forefront of the acquisition of true[X], an engagement and on-demand marketing company which serves as a key component of FNG’s non-linear advertising products and services.
ABOUT HULU
Hulu is a leading premium streaming service that offers instant access to live and on demand channels, original series and films, and a premium library of TV and movies to more than 47 million total unique viewers in the U.S. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has consistently been at the forefront of entertainment and technology. Hulu is the only streaming service that offers both ad-supported and commercial-free current season shows from the largest U.S. broadcast networks; libraries of hit TV series and films; and acclaimed Hulu Originals including Emmy Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mindy Project, The Path, 11.22.63, and Golden Globe® nominated comedy Casual, as well as upcoming series Future Man, Castle Rock, Marvel’s Runaways and The Looming Tower. In 2017, Hulu added live news, entertainment and sports from 21st Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Scripps Networks Interactive to its offering – making it the only TV service that brings together live, on-demand, originals, and library content all in one place, across living room and mobile devices.
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Media Contacts:
Hulu
Gaude Lydia Paez
Fox Networks Group
Jonathan Bing
Disney/ABC Television Group
Kevin Brockman
