Erik Huggers - Agenda Setters 2009

Name: Erik Huggers

Title: Director of BBC Future Media and Technology division

Position: 24    Last year: Not ranked

Why? Driving the BBC's technology strategy

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Since becoming director of the BBC's Future Media and Technology division in July 2008 following the departure of Ashley Highfield, former Microsoft-employee Erik Huggers has certainly made his mark.

His main achievement so far has been to oversee the huge growth of iPlayer, something which some experts feel is largely to do with him pushing the streaming model over downloading.

But Huggers is also responsible for other BBC technology areas such as online output, interactive TV and mobile, not to mention the BBC's own infrastructure. As part of this, Huggers has shaken up various parts of the BBC technology group including a renewed emphasis on BBC R&D.

Talking to silicon.com earlier this year, Huggers said the Canvas IPTV joint venture had the potential to "spawn a whole new industry" and suggested that we've only just seen the beginning of what iPlayer would be.

One Agenda Setters panellist said Huggers was worthy of the list due to his role in continuing the momentum of iPlayer as well as overseeing Canvas, "in a way that others have to react to".

Another judge added: "[Huggers] deserves his place based on future potential to irritate the Murdochs."

Prior to joining the BBC, Dutch-born Huggers helped launch Microsoft's MSN websites in the Benelux countries before leading the company's Windows Media Technologies business development in Europe. Before joining Microsoft, Huggers worked as director of business development within the interactive division of Endemol Entertainment.