Maker Media taps former Pixar, Disney exec

SEBASTOPOL -- Maker Media, Inc., spun off from O'Reilly Media at the end of last year, hired Greg Brandeau as president and chief operating officer to accelerate growth of the company oriented toward do-it-yourselfers.

[caption id="attachment_79893" align="alignleft" width="313"] Greg Brandeau (image credit: Deborah Coleman / Pixar)[/caption]

The company manages Maker Media brands, MAKE magazine, a network of internally produced as well as licensed Maker Faire events worldwide and e-commerce business Maker Shed.

Mr. Brandeau is an MIT-trained engineer and said to be an avid "maker." He helped Pixar and Disney use technology to grow their companies and brands.

"Maker Media is at an exciting juncture in its young life, rife with opportunity to extend and expand our popular brands beyond our current, engaged and devoted community," said Dale Dougherty, chief executive officer and founder of Maker Media. "Greg was involved in building the Pixar brand and growing the company when it was not much bigger than we are today. He understands what we've been able to accomplish this far, and he can help us take full advantage of the opportunities that are emerging as making goes mainstream."

Mr. Brandeau said he likes the challenge of team- and company-building.

"The chance to take another young, talented and well-positioned company with a terrific brand to the next level is an opportunity I couldn't pass up," he said.

Early in his career, he worked for Steve Jobs at NeXT Computer, applying his engineering knowledge, business training, creativity and innovation. He joined Pixar when it was a relatively small company, and led the effort to develop strong teams and cutting-edge technology to establish Pixar as an entertainment powerhouse.

Following the sale of Pixar to Disney, Mr. Brandeau became chief technology officer of The Walt Disney Studios, where he spent the last four years, overseeing innovation in film production to global collaboration tools.

"We believe that Maker Media brings a unique combination of community, content and commerce that is proving to have explosive growth," said Ann Miura-Ko, a partner in Floodgate Fund and an investor in Maker Media. "Greg uniquely understands the challenge of building a global organization that can support this growth with cutting edge innovative products that consumers will love."

Show Comment