Game-based learning platform Kahoot! has named Erik Harrell, a long-time executive of Opera Software, as its chief executive, replacing co-founder Johan Brand.
Harrell takes charge of the execution in operational and commercial capacity; while Brand takes up a new role as Kahoot!’s Chief Strategy Officer and continues as Board Director.
“About 2 years ago I met Erik Harrell. Erik’s a pretty remarkable guy in the tech space. Not just because he’s sat at some insanely long boardroom tables, but because he understands that staying free and scaling aren’t mutually exclusive. That creative and commercial prosperity are, in fact, co-enablers,” Brand said in a blog post.
“One of his many successes in this space was helping take Opera — a free product in a free category — to a $775m revenue company.”
Last month Kahoot! closed a $10 million funding round, saying it would use the capital for investments in the development of additional game formats, strengthening the global team, and new applications for brands, publishers and audiences in its game space.
Kahoot! has seen it’s growth rocket in just a few years — it is the most popular game-based learning platform in the US K-12 market, and can boast with 33 million active users each month.
Kahoot!’s Android App has been a serial Top Performing App in Google Play, with long-awaited iOS app shot the top of the charts just after the release last month.
