Scott Hancock is stepping down from his role as the vice president of marketing for Plex after spending more than a decade with the streaming-focused company.
Hancock made the announcement in a note posted online late Tuesday evening, through which he wrote that he felt the time was right to start a new chapter in his professional journey.
“When I joined in 2013, Plex was a small, quirky startup with about eight employees, working remotely before it became the norm,” Hancock wrote. “A few of us in the Bay Area followed the classic Silicon Valley playbook operating out of a small house in Los Gatos, building something special from the ground up.”
Back then, Plex was focused on bridging the gap between a user’s personal media collection — photos, videos and music files stored on their hard drives and computers — and the various streaming services like Netflix and Hulu that were gaining momentum.
He oversaw various marketing initiatives for Plex, including public outreach and education efforts after the company launched a free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) product within its flagship Plex app. In recent months, the company has been working on a new iteration of its Plex apps for phones, tablets and smart TVs, one that is entirely built from the ground up. The original Plex app was derived from a popular open-source media player called XMBC, now known as Kodi.
“It’s been an extraordinary ride,” Hancock wrote on Tuesday. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented people in the industry, helping to scale Plex into a globally recognized brand that competes with the giants of the streaming world. Through it all, we fostered a culture of humility, kindness, and thoughtfulness — one that transcended remote work and created bonds deeper than any in-office environment I’ve been part of. I’m incredibly proud of the company’s growth, our team’s relentless drive, and the impact we’ve made.”
Hancock said stepping away from his executive role was not an easy decision, but affirmed the timing was right to explore other opportunities that align with his passions.
“Since the new year, I’ve been advising a stealth-mode startup…, tackling long-overdue projects, and reconnecting with friends and family. Now, I’m eager to take on more,” Hancock said.
Hancock said he is open to a variety of different roles for his next venture, including advisory positions, consulting, contract work and “potentially a full-time role, if it’s the right fit.” His interests and skills involve consumer technology and streaming media, and he’s particularly enamored with the role artificial intelligence will play in reshaping the media industry.
Hancock can be contacted on LinkedIn by clicking or tapping here.
