MrBeast hires VC vet to lead the company now known as Beast Industries

Big changes are coming to the internal structure of MrBeast‘s company. Jeffrey Housenbold, an exec best known for his work on venture firm SoftBank‘s Vision Fund, is joining the business apparatus that supports Jimmy Donaldson‘s work on and off YouTube.

According to Housenbold’s LinkedIn profile, he is serving as the President and COO of Beast Industries as of May 2024. Previously, Donaldson used several different names to refer to his brand, including MrBeast, LLC. The fresh moniker reflects a company that is venturing beyond its roots on YouTube and moving into areas like consumable products and streaming television.

In a LinkedIn post accompanying his status update, Housenbold expressed his desire to “build an extraordinary media and consumer product & services company that has a positive impact on the world.”

“At Beast Industries, we believe in the transformative power of digital media and its potential to entertain, educate, and effect positive change,” Housenbold wrote. “Our commitment to innovation, creativity, and philanthropy drives us to explore new frontiers, create unforgettable experiences, and build a legacy that inspires future generations.”

Housenbold’s arrival at MrBeast HQ came around the same time as Donaldson’s decision to end his exclusive relationship with talent management firm Night. At the time, reports suggested that Donaldson broke from Night to take “increasingly personal control of his business.”

The Information notes that Household’s appointment to his new role will not affect the duties of MrBeast’s other President. Marc Hustvedt (who is also a Co-Founder of Tubefilter) will retain his current title and will continue to oversee operations in Donaldson’s media business, which includes videos on the MrBeast Youtube channel.

Outside of the YouTube world, Donaldson has made quality control into a major sticking point. The creator reformulated his Feastables recipe to ensure a better-tasting product, and he is suing former partner Virtual Dining Concepts over the declining quality of his MrBeast Burger chain. Bringing in an experienced exec like Housenbold will help Donaldson find the order he seeks, and it could usher in a new era at the company now known as Beast Industries.