thePlatform Announces Executive Appointments

SEATTLE, Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- thePlatform, the leading white-label video publishing company, today announced the appointment of John Frankovich as the Vice President of Consulting Services, where he will be responsible for leading the company's international consulting team, managing its growth and profitability objectives. Additionally, the company today announced that Chris Drake has been promoted to Vice President of Business Development.

"John Frankovich has an impeccable record of accomplishment in the consulting services arena, and his expertise will further strengthen our ability to meet the diverse and unique needs of our customers," said Ian Blaine, CEO of thePlatform. "Chris Drake has been a terrific leader at thePlatform, and I'm proud to have expanded his responsibilities in order to accelerate our OEM business and strengthen our strategic alliances. I'm confident that John and Chris will make significant contributions to our team, customers, and partners."

John Frankovich comes to thePlatform after spending more than six years as the CEO and founder of Vortex Consulting Partners, a professional services organization that merges user experience, business analysis and software development to create custom software solutions. Previously, he served as CEO and co-owner of the Ramp Technology Group, focused on the seamless integration of interactive design, software product engineering and technology outsourcing. Before that, he served as Senior Vice President of Capgemini, one of the world's largest management consulting, technology outsourcing, and professional services firms. Frankovich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a Master's of Science degree in Engineering, both from the University of Calgary. He will report to Jamie Miller, COO and CFO at thePlatform.

Most recently, Chris Drake was Executive Director at thePlatform and was responsible for thePlatform's global business development efforts and Pay TV business strategy and sales. Previously, he served as both a Senior Director and Director of Business Development managing thePlatform's relationships with TV operators and mobile carriers. In his new role as Vice President of Business Development, Drake is responsible for thePlatform's strategic alliances, technology partnerships, and OEM businesses, where the company is working with third parties to enable their OTT, IPTV and online video publishing efforts. Before joining thePlatform, Drake worked at RealNetworks as Director of Marketing and Strategic Relations, where he focused on the company's efforts in mobile media and entertainment. Prior to that, Drake held various positions in the high tech and management consulting industry. Drake will continue to report to Marty Roberts, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at thePlatform.

Additional information about thePlatform can be found at www.thePlatform.com. 

About thePlatform

thePlatform™ is the leading white-label video management and publishing company. Media companies rely on thePlatform as their open, central hub for managing, monetizing, and syndicating billions of professionally produced video views annually. The company's services provide unmatched versatility for designing and supporting video businesses on PCs, mobile, and TV. Customers include: A+E Networks, Astral, BT, Cablevision, CBC, Comcast, Cox Communications, E!, the Golf Channel, HIT Entertainment, Liberty Global, LSDLive, NBC Local Media, NBC Sports Regional Networks, Outdoor Channel, Oxygen, Rogers, Shaw Media, Style, Syfy, Time Warner Cable, Travel Channel Media, truTV, USA Network, and numerous others. With more than decade history of service, thePlatform is an independent subsidiary of Comcast based in Seattle, Wash. For more information: www.thePlatform.com.

SOURCE thePlatform