About Chris Hood.
My Story.
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, having worked for more than three decades across various mediums, including television, film, music, and video games.
What once started as selling popcorn in a local movie theater as 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 Glee, Gotham, Sleepy Hollow, 24, X-Factor, 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 support a fractional CxO practice, guiding small and large companies through technology, marketing, and customer-centric cultures. I also 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.
Media Bios
Chris Hood, a distinguished keynote speaker, strategist, and author, has become a pivotal thought leader in integrating customer success with digital strategy. With over 30 years of experience in business development, Chris has built a reputation for fostering customer-centric cultures. He is the author of ‘Customer Transformation,’ offering deep insights into aligning businesses with evolving customer needs. In 2024, he was recognized as one of the Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus by Global Gurus. His expertise is rooted in his tenure at Google, leading digital strategy initiatives, and his pioneering work in storytelling technologies at major companies like Fox, Disney, Universal, and Electronic Arts. Currently, Chris is advancing his impact by helping small and medium businesses transform through his fractional CxO practice, where he advises in AI, Marketing, CX and Gaming. Additionally, he teaches at Southern New Hampshire University, emphasizing the intersection of business strategies and technology for customer-centric success.
Chris Hood is a keynote speaker, strategist, and author recognized as a thought leader in customer success and digital strategy. With over three decades of experience, he has authored ‘Customer Transformation’ and was named one of the Top 30 Customer Experience Gurus by Global Gurus in 2024. His career includes significant roles at Google and innovative contributions to storytelling technologies at Fox, Disney, Universal, and Electronic Arts. Currently, Chris leads a fractional CxO practice focusing on transforming SMEs and advises companies in AI, Marketing, and Gaming industries. He also teaches at Southern New Hampshire University, linking business strategies with technology.
Chris Hood is an esteemed keynote speaker, strategist, and author with over 35 years of experience in customer success and digital strategy. Author of ‘Customer Transformation’ and recognized by Global Gurus in 2024, he actively advises in the AI, Marketing, and Gaming sectors and teaches at Southern New Hampshire University.