SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- IndustryNext, an innovative technology services firm specializing in user experience design and application development for media and entertainment companies, today announced the appointment of Rick Barker, 42, as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Barker brings over 16 years of experience in professional services and high technology to his new role. As CEO, he will be guiding the firm's strategic direction while expanding the IndustryNext team and scaling core operations.
Mr. Barker joined IndustryNext in August 2006 as part of the management team with responsibility for leading the company's client services delivery efforts and expanding IndustryNext's presence on the West coast. As a Managing Director, Mr. Barker successfully established IndustryNext's second U.S. location in San Francisco and was instrumental in growing the business via high-profile engagements with companies such as AOL, Bravo, News Corp., and Sony Pictures Entertainment, among others.
"This is an exciting time for IndustryNext," said Barker. "We have been very fortunate to work with great clients and help them innovate using advanced digital technologies," said Barker. "We have helped traditional media companies like Fox and Bravo to extend their brands online, and we have helped companies like AOL to extend the reach of their content beyond the PC and into the digital living room via IPTV offerings like the Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link. We have focused on building a highly specialized team for the type of work that we do, and we have been very successful working with a number of progressive brands as they explore emerging platforms like IPTV, widgets, and interactive games to build their respective businesses."
Prior to IndustryNext, Mr. Barker spent the past 8 years in executive leadership roles at high tech, software, and services companies. He has solid leadership experience in sales and marketing, operations, software product development, and services delivery with companies such as Netopia (now part of the Motorola Connected Home Group), Viewpoint, Totality (acquired by MCI), Viant, and Ernst & Young. As part of the extended leadership team at Viant, a digital services company originally funded by Kleiner Perkins, and Mohr Davidow, Mr. Barker joined as one of the first 20 employees and helped build the company to 11 offices throughout the US and Europe and approximately $150MM in annual revenues, including a successful IPO along the way. During his 5 years at Viant, Mr. Barker played roles of increasing responsibility, starting as a Client Partner overseeing client relationships with Kinko's and HP, then as GM of Viant's Incubation Services, working with companies such as eCast and Della Weddings, and then as the GM of Viant's San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices.
Mr. Barker has a proven track record bringing innovative technology and design solutions to Fortune 500 clients such as Sony, Kinko's, HP Compaq, Daimler Chrysler, Toyota, General Electric, o2, Motorola, Yahoo, AOL, eBay, and more.
Mr. Barker holds a BA degree from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA from Northwestern University, and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
About IndustryNext, LLC
IndustryNext is a leading technology and design firm delivering innovative products and services to clients and consumers. The interactive experiences we have created are being used by millions of people and leverage the latest devices, technologies, frameworks, design patterns, interfaces, and platforms. Additional information about the company is available at http://www.industrynext.com/.
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