Mika Salmi
Encyclopedia
Mika Salmi in Helsinki
, Finland
, is a pioneer in new media
. He has held a variety of senior positions in leading companies in the field.
He was President of Global Digital Media for MTV Networks
/Viacom
overseeing more than 1500 employees in 60 countries. Reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, Judy McGrath
and as a member of her senior strategy team, Salmi worked across MTVN’s many brands, including Comedy Central
, Nickelodeon
, MTV
, and over 30 others.
Prior to that Salmi was CEO and Founder of Atom Entertainment
, which was purchased by Viacom
in 2006. In 1998 Salmi founded AtomFilms, a pioneer in online entertainment, which served as a launching pad for new artists such as Jason Reitman
and JibJab
. Atom Entertainment, which includes brands Shockwave and AddictingGames, became a leader in online entertainment, with over 30 million unique users a month.
Before founding Atom, Salmi worked at RealNetworks
forging the first relationships between an Internet company and traditional media companies. Salmi began his entertainment career in the music business, working at Sony Music International, EMI Music and TVT Records
. At TVT Records he discovered and signed multi-Platinum selling and Grammy winning artist Nine Inch Nails
.
Since August 2009 Salmi has been chairman of the board at Sulake Sulake
. Headquartered in Helsinki, Sulake is in charge of the world's largest virtual world, Habbo
. He joined Sulake in the middle of their latest project, Bobba Bar
, a virtual mini-world for iPhone, iPod Touch and Nokia phones.
He also serves on the boards of Blinkbox
(London), ImageMetrics (Los Angeles), Inkd
(Seattle) and Songbird
(San Francisco).
Salmi has an MBA from INSEAD.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, is a pioneer in new media
New media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
. He has held a variety of senior positions in leading companies in the field.
He was President of Global Digital Media for MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
/Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
overseeing more than 1500 employees in 60 countries. Reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, Judy McGrath
Judy McGrath
Judith Ann McGrath, is an American television executive.Named Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks on 20 July 2004, McGrath oversees the networks' channels, including MTV, MTV2, VH-1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, and Logo...
and as a member of her senior strategy team, Salmi worked across MTVN’s many brands, including Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon Scandinavia
Nickelodeon Scandinavia is a children's channel broadcasting in Denmark, Norway and Finland. In June 2008, a separate channel for Sweden was launched. Nickelodeon Sweden replaced the pan-Nordic channel in all of Sweden...
, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, and over 30 others.
Prior to that Salmi was CEO and Founder of Atom Entertainment
Atom Entertainment
Atom Entertainment is an Internet entertainment company which operates Atom Films, Shockwave.com, AddictingGames.com, and AtomUploads.com, formerly known as AddictingClips.com....
, which was purchased by Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
in 2006. In 1998 Salmi founded AtomFilms, a pioneer in online entertainment, which served as a launching pad for new artists such as Jason Reitman
Jason Reitman
Jason Reitman is a Canadian/American film director, screenwriter, and producer, best known for directing the films Thank You for Smoking , Juno , and Up in the Air . As of February 2, 2010, he has received three Academy Award nominations, two of which are for Best Director...
and JibJab
JibJab
JibJab is a digital entertainment studio based in Venice, California. Founded in 1999 by Evan and Gregg Spiridellis, it was noticed during the 2004 US presidential election when their video of George W. Bush and John Kerry singing "This Land is Your Land" became a hit. The company creates,...
. Atom Entertainment, which includes brands Shockwave and AddictingGames, became a leader in online entertainment, with over 30 million unique users a month.
Before founding Atom, Salmi worked at RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
forging the first relationships between an Internet company and traditional media companies. Salmi began his entertainment career in the music business, working at Sony Music International, EMI Music and TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
. At TVT Records he discovered and signed multi-Platinum selling and Grammy winning artist Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
.
Since August 2009 Salmi has been chairman of the board at Sulake Sulake
Sulake
Sulake |fuse]]") is a Finnish social entertainment company focused on online social places and games. The company's goal is to inspire playful interaction and self-expression in people by creating easy to use social online services...
. Headquartered in Helsinki, Sulake is in charge of the world's largest virtual world, Habbo
Habbo
Habbo is a social networking site aimed at teenagers. The website is owned and operated by Sulake Corporation. The service began in 2000 and has expanded to include 11 online communities , with users in over 150 countries. As of August 2011, over 230 million avatars have been registered...
. He joined Sulake in the middle of their latest project, Bobba Bar
Bobba Bar
Bobba Bar is a free virtual world for mobile phones, created by Sulake, the creators of Habbo. Bobba Bar is for 17+.Bobba Bar was launched in the Nokia OVI store and iTunes on November 2009 as a free application for Nokia smart phones, iPod touch and iPhone users. Named after bobba, an ex-word...
, a virtual mini-world for iPhone, iPod Touch and Nokia phones.
He also serves on the boards of Blinkbox
Blinkbox
Blinkbox is a UK-based video-on-demand website that allows users to legally preview, buy and rent over 6,000 full length premium movies and TV shows online...
(London), ImageMetrics (Los Angeles), Inkd
Inkd
Inkd is a controversial new startup developed by Kelly Smith of Curious Office and the venture capital firm Second Avenue Partners in Seattle, Washington. Inkd calls itself the "World's First Market for Original Print Design"...
(Seattle) and Songbird
Songbird (software)
Songbird is a free and open source software audio player and web browser, with a stated mission "to incubate Songbird, the first Web player, to catalyze and champion a diverse, open Media Web."...
(San Francisco).
Salmi has an MBA from INSEAD.