Spotify is adding to its podcast executive arsenal.
The company has tapped Jean Chi to serve in a newly-created role — global head of podcast business affairs. Chi arrives at Spotify from Paramount, where she formerly served as EVP of business affairs and led a team that worked on deals for A Quiet Place 2 and Mission: Impossible 7, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
In her new role, Chi will lead the dealmaking process from a legal standpoint across Spotify Studios as well as acquired podcast studio properties, including Gimlet, Parcast, and The Ringer. She will also oversee Spotify’s worldwide business affairs team, per the Reporter, reporting to VP of business affairs David Kaefer.
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Prior to joining Paramount, Chi held senior roles at A24, Lionsgate, and Summit Entertainment. She got her undergrad degree from Stanford and graduated from the NYU School Of Law.
Spotify most recently confirmed that it has 299 million users in 92 markets, and has substantially sought to grow its podcasting business in recent years — thanks to a flurry of acquisitions of top podcast studios as well as exclusive series deals inked with the likes of the Obamas, Joe Rogan, and Kim Kardahsian. The company said in its last earnings report that listening time for its 1.5 million podcasts more than doubled last quarter. It has also sought to integrate new features, including native video podcasting capabilities as well as its own top podcast charts.
On the non-music audio front, Spotify is also looking to hire an executive that will oversee its efforts in the audiobooks space.
