Magnifi by VideoVerse, an AI-driven video technology company and powerful video-editing SaaS platform, today announced the appointment of Heiko Stroh as the company’s new Director of Sales for the DACH region. With more than 18 years of experience in the sports industry, Stroh brings a wealth of expertise and a vast network of connections to Magnifi. In his new role, he will use his knowledge of the German-speaking sports market, along with his experience in business development, marketing, and customer relationship management, to help expand Magnifi’s presence in the region.
Before Magnifi, Stroh held key positions at renowned companies such as Opta, Perform, Sport1, and VfB Stuttgart, where he successfully led teams focused on business development, marketing, and long-term customer engagement. His sports industry background makes him uniquely qualified to lead Magnifi’s growth and establish the company’s brand in the DACH region.
“I am excited to be joining Magnifi as we stand on the brink of a new era in the sports industry, driven by the transformative power of AI,” said Heiko. “I look forward to helping to redefine business development and customer engagement in the DACH region, establishing a strong foothold and leading the way in AI-driven sports solutions.”
This hiring ties in with Magnifi’s value of the DACH region with its growth in consumption of media sports. Stasia reports that the Sports market in Germany is projected to grow by 11.84% (2022-2029) resulting in a market volume of US$148.30m in 2029. Using specialized sales people is important as they speak the language, understand the culture and local market trends.
In addition to Stroh, Magnifi also announced the hiring of Ken Ruck as its new Vice President of Sales. With more than 22 years of experience in technology and media, Ruck will oversee Magnifi’s sales efforts across the U.S. to help expand its market presence.
Most recently, Ruck served as Executive Vice President of Sales & Commercial Operations at live sports technology company Videon, where he led global sales and operations and drove the company’s technology to over 1,500 venues worldwide. Under his leadership, Videon secured major clients including the Premier League, Wimbledon, the NFL, NHL, MLB and more.
“I am thrilled to join Magnifi at a pivotal time in the sports industry, where AI is set to revolutionize how content is created and distributed,” said Ruck. “With over two decades of sales experience for major sports events and organizations, I am eager to help drive growth in the U.S. and help establish Magnifi as the leading force in sports AI production.”
Prior to joining Magnifi, Ruck was a Principal at Amazon Live, where he launched and drove the AI-enabled live video platform to $500 million in annual revenue. He also led several successful start-ups, including Linus ASX, Flash Networks, Oberon Media, and Hemisphere Interactive, and held senior positions at major media companies such as Viacom, Turner, Virgin, and Kodak.
“We are excited to welcome Ken to the Magnifi team during this critical phase of our growth,” said Meghna Krishna, Chief Revenue Officer. at Magnifi. “His impressive experience in leading sales efforts in the sports technology industry makes him the ideal leader to help grow the company’s US presence.”