Deezer appoints Hans-Holger Albrecht as Chief Executive Officer of its global operations

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Dec 18, 2014, 10:00 ET

PARIS, Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading music streaming service Deezer announced today the appointment of Dr. Hans-Holger Albrecht as its Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of Directors, effective February 1^st 2015.

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Albrecht comes from Millicom where he was President and CEO of the telecom and media group, offering digital services to over 50 million customers in Africa and Latin America. Previously he held the post of President and CEO of Modern Times Group, one of Europe's larger media groups with TV, Radio, Publishing, Production and New Media assets and 1,500 employees in over 20 countries.

Didier Bench, Chairman of the Board, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Hans-Holger to Deezer. We've worked with him before and know he brings real expertise from the Telco, Entertainment and Services sectors in the workings of subscription models, video and Pay for TV, Radio and advertising."

"It is with a tremendous sense of excitement that I take on the role of CEO of Deezer," Hans-Holger Albrecht said. "This is a company that has already built a substantial user base of 16 million people in more than 180 countries. It has come a long way already and become a thriving, pioneering company that is helping to redefine the way we all discover and enjoy music."

"Together with the board and the management team, we will work towards continuing Deezer's stellar trajectory in the context of a booming market, where streaming holds so much promise for the future of audio listening."

The appointment comes at a time of rapid international expansion for the company and following its launch in the United States in September, which saw it target high-end audio enthusiasts with High Definition lossless sound and partnerships with leading manufacturers Sonos and Bose.

Since then Deezer has announced its intention to enter the world of audio entertainment with the acquisition of top radio and podcasting company Stitcher, adding to a number of other new partnerships including telecommunications leader Tim in Brazil, media conglomerates ProSiebenSat.1 in Germany and FastWeb in Italy, The Voice in the Netherlands and Samsung worldwide.

Daniel Marhely, Deezer's Founder said: "With over 20 years' international experience in running media and Telecom enterprises at the pinnacle of digital innovation, Hans-Holger is a perfect fit. Combined with our focus on product innovation and our ambitious partnership strategy, I've no doubt that he will help us take Deezer to the next phase of its development."

About Deezer:

Deezer is the first truly global on-demand audio provider, offering a digital music streaming service in more than 180 countries, with 16 million monthly active users and 6 million paid subscribers worldwide.

Deezer is at the forefront of a streaming revolution, allowing fans instant access to the largest music catalogue in the world, with more than 35 million songs and 30,000+ radio channels on any device. Combining the talents of its people and machines, Deezer's global editorial team searches for the best music around the world and its algorithmic recommendations help fans discover music they will truly love. Deezer is available on your favorite device, including smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop, home sound system, connected car or smart TV.

Launched in 2007, Deezer is a privately held company, headquartered in Paris around the world. Deezer is currently available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows devices or on the web at http://www.deezer.com globally outside the US. In October 2014 Deezer acquired leading on-demand talk radio service Stitcher.

For the latest news, and official Deezer images go to Deezer.com/company/press

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SOURCE Deezer