OTTera has hired international sales expert Simon Tchokonté of Novocomedy as its new director of business development – Africa.
LA-based OTT/FAST channel provider OTTera has expanded into Africa with the appointment of a new hire to oversee the region, following successful international expansions into Latin America, China and the Middle East.
OTTera’s mission is to connect local publishers and content owners with the largest connected TV companies in the FAST arena, to expand their channels to accommodate new viewership habits and changing demographics around the world.
The company has appointed Simon Tchokonté of Novocomedy as its new director of business development – Africa. Tchokonté will operate between France, Cameroon, South Africa and Tanzania to grow OTTera’s influence in the OTT industry in the West, East and South African regions.
The executive joins from non-verbal content provider Novocomedy where he most recently served as deputy general manager. Across his 10-year career, Tchokonté also worked as a sales and human resources manager at Novovision.
OTTera said that Tchokonté’s managerial sales background at Novovision and Novocomedy, as well as extensive knowledge of the African TV industry from both a sales and cultural perspective, will give him the upper hand to lead OTTera’s move into the African market.
Speaking about the expansion, Stephen L. Hodge, Chairman and CEO of OTTera, said: “As demand for OTT/FAST streaming reaches all corners of the globe, we felt it necessary to select a Director of Business Development for Africa that not only truly understands the cultures, but also has the sales experience and connections to fast-track business development. Simon Tchokonté, in his work with Novovision and Novocomedy, has proven that he is the best person to lead OTTera’s rapid growth in Africa.”
Tchokonté added: “Working with OTTera in a client role has given me insight as to how many opportunities they have in front of them as a white label FAST service with global aspirations. My goal is to help them move their business quickly into the African continent and extend their distribution to millions more users there.”
