As Rocket Internet struggles, its startup specialist Martin Johansen joins iflix

• Expertise in expansion, internationalisation and ‘hyper growth,’ says iflix
• Appointment comes in the wake of a Rocket Internet shakeup in SEA

 
KUALA Lumpur-headquartered iflix has announced the appointment of Rocket Internet alumni and startup growth specialist Martin Johansen (pic above) as its head of new markets.
 
His proven expertise in expansion, internationalisation and “hyper growth” will be critical in driving iflix’s global expansion plans, the Internet TV company said in a statement.
 
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Martin [Johansen] to the iflix family,” said iflix Group cofounder and chief executive officer Mark Britt.
 
“He has an outstanding track record for achieving and sustaining high growth for businesses in new markets and is uniquely qualified to spearhead our global expansion strategy,” he added.
 
This comes in the wake of a Rocket Internet shakeup in South-East Asia, with Tech Crunch’s Jon Russell reporting on April 21 that two top executives – managing directors Harry Markl and Avni Pundir – had departed the Rocket Internet-backed e-commerce fashion site Zalora.
 
Russell had also reported earlier that Rocket Internet’s sale of its Lazada business to China’s Alibaba had come in the nick of time for the beleaguered South-East Asian e-commerce site.
 
Meanwhile, in its statement, iflix said that Johansen is a cofounder of Hem, and online design startup recently acquired by an undisclosed Swiss firm.
 
Prior to founding Hem, he was Norway country manager for Rocket Internet’s European online fashion platform Zalando SE, where he led the company’s expansion into that country. He has also held multiple senior roles within Groupon.
 
“I’m very excited about this incredible opportunity to bring iflix’s world-class service to dozens of new markets around the world,” said Johansen.
 
“I look forward to working with the team to capitalise on the enormous potential that emerging markets present and make iflix available to new users in new markets globally,” he added.
 
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