Johannes Larcher

Managing Director, Digital at MBC

Speaker

Johannes Larcher is an accomplished and versatile Internet and Digital Media
Executive whose track-record spans a wide range of industry sectors,
functional roles, and company types. Johannes has successfully managed P&Ls
from first revenue to over $300m in both B2B and B2C environments:

• At Hulu (2009 – 2013), the premium video service owned by Disney, Fox, and NBC, Johannes as
SVP International was responsible for all of Hulu’s activities outside the United States. Most
notably, he launched and ran Hulu Japan, the country’s highly acclaimed online video market
leader that has accumulated >1.5 million paid subscribers. He oversaw all aspects of Hulu
Japan’s business including content licensing, customer acquisition, OEM / Telco distribution and
product/technology. Johannes was also responsible for Hulu’s business development and
partnership efforts in markets including Canada, the U.K., Australia, Turkey, and India.

• At Overture (1999 – 2003), the NASDAQ-listed paid search and performance marketing pioneer,
he successfully built the Company’s international business from initial concept to market
leadership across Europe and Asia Pacific. Overseeing 400+ employees, his team was fully
accountable for all aspects of the business, including ad sales, product/technology, distribution
partnerships, marketing, and customer operations for tens of thousands of global advertisers.

He was also deeply involved in Overture’s $1.7b sale and post-merger integration with Yahoo!.
• As CEO of Academy123 (2005 – 2006), an online education startup, Johannes launched the
market leading homework help service for math students grades 3 to 12, and successfully sold
the business to Discovery Communications, achieving 84% blended IRR for his investors.
• Additional digital experiences include roles as Co-Founder and CEO of Pikum!, a social gaming
service backed by Sir Richard Branson (asset sale to Sportech PLC); a brief stint in social
networking at Friendster; and in Business Development at KornFerry’s Futurestep online
recruiting service.

• Since leaving Hulu, Johannes has served as a strategic advisor and interim CEO for major
broadcasters (RTL), studios (Lionsgate Films), and private equity firms in the TTM sector
(Saban Capital), for which he evaluated and launched various OTT Video services in Europe, the
U.S., and Asia. He currently serves as CEO and Co-Founder of SubVRsive, an Emmy-nominated
VR and AR Content Production startup funded by WPP. Working closely with global brands like
Ford, Google, Estee Lauder, and Walmart, SubVRsive creates unforgettable immersive
experiences through 360 Video and interactive VR and AR applications.

He is also an active angel investor in companies incl. Goldieblox (children’s multimedia and toy
company), Cratejoy (subscription eCommerce platform), TraceMe (superfan subscription service),
Wisecrack (‘smart & funny’ online education content), Eyeway Vision (virtual retinal display), and
CreatorIQ (social influencer marketing platform).

Johannes started his career as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co. in Los Angeles, where
he focused on technology and media clients.

Johannes holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He
currently resides in Austin, TX with his family.