Wowza Media Systems LLC, a Lakewood provider of live and on-demand video streaming software, has appointed Krish Kumar as CEO, effective Dec. 2, 2024. Kumar succeeds Dave Stubenvoll, co-founder and CEO, who has led the company since its inception in 2007. Stubenvoll will continue to be an investor and serve on Wowza’s board of directors.
Since May 2021, Wowza has been backed by Clearhaven Partners, a Boston-based software private equity firm. The company is recognized for its scalable and reliable streaming software, which is used by various organizations around the world. Wowza’s customers include Fortune 2000 companies, government organizations and educational institutions across more than 130 countries, with over 170,000 instances of Wowza Streaming Engine in concurrent use, transcoding over 30 million hours of live video each month.
Among Wowza’s notable clients are companies such as Sony, Amazon and Google, along with sports organizations like Formula One and educational institutions such as Stanford University.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Krish as CEO of Wowza,” said Michelle Noon, founder and managing partner of Clearhaven Partners. “Krish brings a proven track record of harnessing powerful products with large market opportunities to catalyze scalable go-to-market operations and drive accelerated growth through his customer-centric approach.”
Kumar has extensive experience as a leader focused on growth and customer needs. Previously, he was the CEO of BrightEdge and held multiple leadership roles at Google, including global head of enterprise search. His background positions him to enhance Wowza’s offerings in a rapidly evolving video market.
“I am thrilled to join Wowza at such an exciting point in its journey,” said Kumar. “Dave and the Wowza team have built a strong foundation with its stellar customer base, valuable products and brand recognition, making it the go-to platform for leading businesses, institutions and the developer communities.”
Co-Founder Dave Stubenvoll expressed confidence in Kumar’s leadership, stating, “Krish has an exceptional track record of driving innovation and growth, and I couldn’t be more excited for the era of Krish’s leadership as he will drive the business to its next levels of success.”
