Jakob Hummes
About Jakob Hummes
Jakob Hummes is the Director of Channel Sales at Backlight, where he has worked since 2023. He has extensive experience in sales and business development within the technology and media sectors, having held various leadership roles at companies such as IBM and Wildmoka.
Work at Backlight
Jakob Hummes serves as the Director of Channel Sales at Backlight, a position he has held since 2023. His role involves collaborating with partners, resellers, and system integrators to promote Backlight's SaaS cloud-native solutions. These solutions cater to major broadcasters globally and include products such as Wildmoka Clip Studio, Backlight Live Studio, and Playout. Hummes utilizes a consultative sales approach, engaging in strategic discussions with managers and executives to enhance the monetization of multiscreen solutions.
Previous Experience in Sales and Business Development
Prior to his current role, Jakob Hummes accumulated extensive experience in sales and business development. He worked at Wildmoka in various capacities, including Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Sales EMEA, from 2018 to 2021. His tenure at IBM included roles as a Consulting Sales Specialist, where he focused on IBM Cloud Video and Watson Media. Additionally, he held the position of Director of Overlay Sales at Harmonic, contributing to his expertise in the video and media sectors.
Educational Background
Jakob Hummes has a strong educational foundation in computer science. He earned a Ph.D. from EPFL, where he studied from 1996 to 1999. Prior to that, he completed a Master's degree in Computer Science at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 1989 to 1996. In 2016, he furthered his education by attending the IBM Global Sales School for 11 months, enhancing his sales skills and knowledge in technology.
Technical Expertise
Hummes possesses technical core knowledge in various areas relevant to the video and media industry. His expertise includes video on demand (VOD), over-the-top (OTT) services, networked personal video recording (nPVR), multiscreen solutions, transcoding, streaming, and distributed software. He has experience with scalable storage systems, mobile networks, and content distribution networks (CDN), which supports his ability to build and sell solutions for new entrants in the video space.
Language Proficiency
Jakob Hummes is proficient in three languages: English, German, and French. This multilingual capability enables him to effectively communicate and present in diverse environments, enhancing his ability to engage with clients and partners across different regions.