Rovi said Kathy Weidman has joined the interactive programming guide and video navigation company as senior vice president and general manager, metadata.
In that role, will lead the metadata business group, overseeing product management, engineering and data operations. She reports to John Burke, Rovi’s EVP and COO, and will be based out of the corporate offices in Radnor, Pa.
“Kathy’s industry background coupled with her leadership roles are a powerful combination as we continue rapid expansion of our metadata business,” said Burke, a former Motorola and Arris exec who joined Rovi in March. “Kathy’s extensive experience and deep knowledge of the media industry and its technologies will help further drive our innovation in products and solutions for our customers.”
Weidman most recently was an executive consultant at MoonBeam Partners Limited, and is also late of Red Bee Media Limited, a U.K.-based media services unit acquired by Ericsson in May that counts clients such as BBC, Canal Plus, Discovery, Google, ITV, Liberty Global, Microsoft, Samsung, UKTV, TV4 and Virgin Media.
She is joining Rovi amid a metadata market that is growing more heated and competitive. Of recent note, Rovi rival Gracenote has been on an M&A tear, having most recently put up $19 million for HWW, an Australia-based provider of TV and movie data to a range of pay-TV operators.
