David Aufhauser Joins VOKE as Chief Strategy and Product Officer

VOKE, the cutting-edge virtual reality company that is focused on building the next generation of fan engagement for sports and entertainment, has named David Aufhauser Chief Strategy and Product Officer.

Aufhauser has spent more than 20 years leading multifunctional teams to build digital media businesses at the nexus of technology, media and sports/entertainment, including Yahoo!, AOL, Justin.tv, and Pac-12 Networks. He joins VOKE after serving the last 4-plus years as General Manager and Vice President for Pac-12 Networks’ digital operation.

As a founding member of the Pac-12 Networks’ executive team, Aufhauser was instrumental in the launch of the collegiate conference’s seven linear networks and oversaw the creation of all digital properties, including mobile apps, social media, Pac-12.com, the universities’ athletic mobile/websites and Pac-12 Now, one of the first-ever 24/7 live TV Everywhere services. With VOKE, he will be responsible for creating and executing the company’s strategic plan for bringing immersive products to market.

“David’s vast experience and track record for successfully bringing digital products to market will be very valuable to our team,” says VOKE Co-Founder and CEO Sankar “Jay” Jayaram. “We have been developing a highly flexible platform that allows us to provide the most immersive live content experiences for fans in sports and entertainment. As we continue to build our team and add leaders like David, our product and unique experiences will continue to grow and will benefit the entire VR content community.”

Through the strength and flexibility of its technology platform, VOKE delivers the most immersive, user-driven live sports and entertainment experiences directly to fans. The flexibility of the platform was on display during March Madness when VOKE partnered with Turner Sports to create a live feed during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four that gave fans a courtside experience in virtual reality and 2D user-controlled formats. The full experience was viewed by millions of fans on VR headsets, mobile devices, and Facebook.

“Jay is a true visionary in the world of virtual reality and that can be seen in the technology that he is creating and the team he is assembling,” says Aufhauser. “We are at the center of a paradigm shift. Just as mobile technology has touched all of our lives, VR and AR are poised to have the same kind of impact on everyone. I am very excited about the opportunity to help deliver unforgettable experiences to fans globally.”

After closing its Series A round of venture funding, led by Intel Capital, VOKE is in the process expanding its team with a focus on engineering and product activation. It has also moved into its new Silicon Valley headquarters in Santa Clara, CA.