OverDrive Names Marc Debevoise President
An OverDrive rep said Debevoise will focus on “operational leadership and execution," while founder and CEO Steve Potash will "continue to set the long-term vision and overall strategic direction for the company."
OverDrive this week announced a key appointment, naming former CBS and BrightCove executive Marc DeBevoise as President.
In this new role, DeBevoise will guide OverDrive's “continued investment in tools, partnerships, and product innovation that support educators, librarians, and learners,” according to a company release. He will also join the company’s Board of Directors.
In a statement, Steve Potash, Founder & CEO of OverDrive said Debevoise will help “make Libby, Sora, and Kanopy even more user friendly, more inclusive, and more joyful” for users. "He's spent his career helping people connect with the stories and ideas that move them,” Potash added, “and he's joining us to help libraries and schools do what they do best, change lives through reading, viewing, and learning."
In a release, OverDrive officials said DeBevoise’s experience leading teams that built “widely used digital experiences at Brightcove, Paramount, and CBS Interactive” would “help OverDrive expand how students, teachers, and library patrons discover and engage with stories, knowledge, and ideas in every format.”
An OverDrive spokesperson told Words & Money that, as President, Debevoise will focus on “operational leadership and execution, guiding product innovation, strategic partnerships, and investments that support libraries and schools, particularly across Libby, Sora, and Kanopy,” while Potash will "continue to set the long-term vision and overall strategic direction for the company." Debevoise will also help expand OverDrive internationally.
“In short, Steve continues to lead the company's overarching mission and strategy while Marc is stepping in to help drive growth, operational excellence, and innovation in support of that vision,” the rep added.
"Libraries and schools are where curiosity becomes understanding," DeBevoise said, in a statement. "I am excited to support this community and to help OverDrive expand access to the full spectrum of stories and ideas available through the books, audiobooks, films, and documentaries that entertain and enlighten every reader and deepen learning for every student."
