Chris Hood - About
Chris Hood Bio Photo 2022

Additional Media Bios | Headshots

Who is Chris Hood?

Hi, I’m Chris Hood, a digital strategist, podcast host, and author. I love storytelling and have made it an essential part of my career. I’ve always loved escaping into words, sounds, images, and events to paint a solution for others to experience. It is the primary reason I am a veteran of the digital entertainment industry with more than three decades of working across various mediums, including television, film, music, and video games.

What once started as selling popcorn in a local movie theater and a film student, I found my love for cinema and an endless drive that propelled my career to incredible heights. This included receiving multiple industry awards for theatre marketing campaigns, including the National Association of Theater Owners’ coveted customer service award and Hollywood Reporter’s grand prize showmanship award three years in a row for Jurassic Park (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), and Apollo 13 (1995). This was also the point in my life where I began public speaking. At 19 years old, I stood in front of audiences of 500 people to talk about movies. 

Taking “behind-the-scenes” to a new level, I followed my entrepreneurial spirit early on to invent, develop and market a patent-pending digital multimedia advertising and interactive technology platform for movie theatres. The Digireel technology was the first digital cinema advertising and video game program introduced to replace slide-based pre-show entertainment, creating a unique, next-generation advertainment service. Digireel premiered in the summer of 1999 at Cinemapolis movie theatre in Anaheim Hills, California, and was acquired by National Cinema Network a year later. The Digireel technology is the foundation for onscreen advertising seen in theatres nationwide today, and was the first introduction of Artificial Intelligence into an interactive theater projection.

In 2003 I joined the music industry with a small startup called Ruckus Network (Ruckus.com). We produced a legal music service for college campuses during Napster’s reign and the RIAA suing college students for music piracy. In 5 years, the company grew and was acquired by a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Sony Music called Total Music. During this venture, I was responsible for designing the first “cloud” based music player, TunePost, before the cloud existed. 

No stranger to transforming various industries, my eye for innovation and strategic digital campaigns sparked several executive management stints, including FOX Broadcasting Company. While at Fox, I developed storytelling technologies and innovated new mechanisms for viewers to engage with television content for shows like GleeGothamSleepy Hollow, and American Idol. My work also included developing TV Everywhere products and building new interactive media to support digital marketing initiatives across multiple media platforms, including Xbox, Playstation, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.

I am an active member and previous chair of the International Game Developers Association, supporting over 20,000 members in Southern California in the video game industry, including founding chapters in San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles. My passion for games led me to Co-found Blind Squirrel Games in Orange County, California, in 2009. Around this time, I spent more time in the AI space and began teaching courses at Colorado Technical University on AI/ML automation and ethics.


By 2014, my expertise garnered the trust and respect of dozens of brands. I developed the framework for Customer Transformation and continued to deliver customer-centric strategies for Universal, Doritos, Reebok, Columbia Pictures, Apigee, Emmys, and more.

In 2016, I joined Google as the Head of Digital Business Strategy and platforms. I utilized my thought leadership and strategic insights on digital and customer transformation to fuel numerous enterprises toward success. During my tenure at Google, I kept my finger on the pulse of the media and entertainment industry, participating strategically in our industry solutions and developing incredible customer experiences across all mediums. I also had the honor of creating and hosting That Digital Show, the first weekly business podcast for Google Cloud.

Today, as a keynote speaker, author of “Customer Transformation,” host of ‘The Chris Hood Digital Show,’ & ‘Customer Transformation Live,’ and a strategic advisor in the video game and AI spaces. I am proud to add another accolade to my list of accomplishments – being recognized as one of the Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus by Global Gurus in 2024. On all of my platforms, I address the challenges and impacts of swiftly changing technology landscapes and the impact of technology on consumers.

 

My role extends beyond hosting and speaking; I also offer a Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice, guiding small and large companies through the principles of Customer Transformation and building customer-centric cultures. I enjoy travel, movies, and penning my upcoming fantasy-adventure novel in my leisure time. I continue contributing to academia as an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University, following my teaching tenure at Colorado Technical University.


Don’t hesitate to contact me for more information or to explore speaking opportunities.

Additional Media Bios

200 word Bio 3rd Person100 word Bio 3rd Person55 word Bio 3rd Person
Chris Hood, a distinguished keynote speaker and strategist, has emerged as pivotal in integrating customer success and digital strategy. With over three decades of experience fostering business development, Chris's innovative approach has solidified his reputation as a leader in creating customer-centric cultures. As the author of 'Customer Transformation' and upcoming book on Customer Aspirations, he offers unparalleled insights into aligning businesses with the evolving needs of their customers. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus by Global Gurus in 2024, Chris's expertise spans his tenure at Google, where he led digital strategy initiatives as part of the Customer Success organization, and his groundbreaking work in storytelling technologies at Fox & Disney. In 2024, Chris continues to push boundaries with his Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice, which is dedicated to transforming organizations into customer-aligned entities. His contributions to 'The Chris Hood Digital Show' and his role as a strategic advisor for a few innovative companies in the Gaming and AI space further underscore his influence in driving digital potential and customer alignment across industries. Chris also imparts his extensive knowledge to Southern New Hampshire University students, emphasizing the critical convergence of business strategies and technology for customer-centric success.
Chris Hood, a keynote speaker, specializes in merging customer success with digital strategy. With over 35 years, he's a leader in fostering customer-centric cultures. The author of 'Customer Transformation,' Chris is recognized among the Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus in 2024. His background includes leading digital strategy at Google and innovating storytelling technologies at Fox & Disney. He offers a Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice to help organizations align closely with customer needs. Additionally, Chris influences the Gaming and AI sectors, hosts 'The Chris Hood Digital Show,' and educates students at SNHU on the fusion of business strategy and technology.
Chris Hood, a top keynote speaker and author of 'Customer Transformation,' merges customer success with digital strategy. Recognized among 2024's Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus, his expertise spans Google's digital strategy to Fox & Disney's storytelling innovations. Hood leads a Fractional Chief Customer Officer practice, shaping customer-centric cultures across Gaming, AI, and education at SNHU.
border footer gray waves
Your Bag
Shop cart Your Bag is Empty