Kobalt has hired Avid Larizadeh Duggan as EVP and Chief Strategy & Business Officer.
The London-based exec will lead the music company’s overall global strategy and business development activities.
Larizadeh Duggan joins Kobalt from Google Ventures (GV) where she was general partner and ran GV’s investment in Kobalt.
GV led a $60m funding round into Kobalt back in 2015. Then-GV boss Bill Maris has since left the company, and last year joined Kobalt’s board of directors.
Commenting on Larizadeh Duggan’s appointment, Kobalt CEO & Founder Willard Ahdritz stated, “Avid has a big passion for tech, building products and growing companies. Adding to that, she is a great person and team player.
“I am very happy to welcome her to the Kobalt executive team, where she will help us in continuing to build the new music industry.”
“Kobalt is on a clear mission to bring transparency, fairness and efficiency to the music industry.”
Avid Larizadeh Duggan
Said Larizadeh Duggan: “As one of my portfolio companies while at GV, I had been closely witnessing Willard’s inspiring leadership and the Kobalt team’s commitment to build the music industry by putting creators first.
“Kobalt is on a clear mission to bring transparency, fairness and efficiency to the music industry as a whole through the combination of technology, one of the best creative teams in the industry and bold vision.
“To have the opportunity to drive forward this mission and be part of Kobalt’s stellar team at such a key time in the company’s growth, is a real privilege.”
Larizadeh Duggan has been involved in the tech ecosystem as a developer, product manager, founder, investor and adviser for the past 20 years.
She was a general partner at Google Ventures from 2014 to 2018. Prior to GV, she co-founded Boticca, a global marketplace for independent brands of fashion accessories where she was COO running product, engineering and editorial. Boticca was acquired by Wolf & Badger.
Larizadeh Duggan started investing at Accel Partners in London in 2006. She has been an active early investor in multiple companies, including as an angel investor in Okta (Nasdaq: OKTA).
She also held product management roles at Tellme Networks, Skype and eBay from which she holds a patent for her work.
She is a non-executive director on the board of Barclays Bank UK PLC and has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.Music Business Worldwide
