Meet The 37-Year-Old CEO Who Turned Vimeo Into A Billion-Dollar Company | Forbes

Vimeo was always YouTube's weird, flailing, artsy cousin — until a thirty-something CEO stepped in and figured out how to make it a cash cow. CEO Anjali Sud has transformed the near-forgotten Vimeo into a $6 billion blockbuster business that lets both mom-and-pop shops and giant corporations shoot, edit and post millions of videos across the internet’s most influential sites.

Seven years ago, Vimeo had Hollywood dreams. The internet video outfit—owned by Barry Diller’s IAC—had found a niche hosting flicks for artsy filmmakers who didn’t want their works to be tossed into YouTube’s unruly, ad-driven stew. But it was a tiny, money-losing business with annual revenue under $40 million. Vimeo was pinning its hopes on the booming streaming business, betting it could leverage its relationship with creatives to build a subscription service to rival Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO. It hired studio execs from Para­mount and Hulu and signed distribution deals with Lionsgate, CBS Interactive and Spike Lee for content to stock the new service.

But Anjali Sud, then Vimeo’s 31-year-old director of marketing, had a hunch the company’s future was not in Hollywood hits but Silicon Valley plumbing. Her plan: shift its focus from entertainment to entrepreneurs. “Vimeo had long been a software company for filmmakers, but the market was too small,” says Sud, now 37. “There was another, much bigger market—businesses. What Squarespace and GoDaddy did for websites, we could do with video.”

Sud was soon transforming Vimeo from a dusty web relic into the showstopper of IAC’s tech portfolio. A one-stop shop to shoot, edit, store and distribute video, Vimeo posted sales of $84 million during the fourth quarter of 2020, a 54% jump from the same period the previous year. Last quarter, net subscribers increased by 300,000, to a total of 1.5 million—a gain of nearly 25%. Annual revenue is on track to top $300 million. IAC shut down the streaming division in 2017 and made Sud the CEO.

Vimeo should be another star spin-off. In the current frothy cloud software market, Bank of America predicts Vimeo (which IAC tried to unload to Kodak for around $10 million more than a decade ago) could hit a valuation of $10 billion—about 50% of IAC’s current market cap.

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[sxerosie]

She seems like a good leader, I wish her much success as a CEO & mother!

[aishwarya]

I’m also an Indian-American girl who wants to become a CEO and entrepreneur when I grow up! Ive only rarely seen anyone that looks like me, be the face of this field and there isn’t a lot of representation of people that look like us in this field either. For this reason, along with everything you’ve accomplished, I really look up to you, Anjali Sud! Thanks for making such an awesome video Forbes!

[FilmsByDan]

This is leadership. Honesty, humility and drive. She's inspiring.

[unluckytourist]

It's crazy to me seeing someone this well put together at such a relatively young age.

[imjei]

"I want to learn, I want to build and I want to make an impact"

[julianaceansah]

Anjali summed up her philosophy nicely LEARN, BUILD and have an IMPACT 👌🏾👏🏾

[luccianalewis]

I feel proud of her how she has gotten into a male industry dominated by men and become in a CEO. Leave your zone of comfort has advantages one of them look for new opportunities where nobody can take a look and focus on your strength than weaks.

[authenticapparel]

Director of Marketing right into CEO?? Wow anything is possible. Good job!

[MsLovication]

She has a clear vision and that sets her apart. Best of luck Anjali

[at]

Wow ceo at 37 and female from a migrant background... ambitious and inspiring springs to mind!!!

[FindYourVentur]

Great to see the face behind vimeo! It’s really become an essential tool for video production businesses!

[dhruvishah]

Hey forbes hope ur asking parenting question to Male CEO’s too!!

[Rahsaan-Noor]

Very inspiring story Anjali. Hope we can follow your lead. Loved what your father had to say: "The best way you can impact your community is by creating jobs."

[anniehyams]

And thumbs up for you @ Forbes and for your wonderful interesting videos thank you👍👍😀😀🌹🌹❤️❤️

[nairmanish]

Being an immigrant she's truly an inspiration for many

[BharatRaghavan]

Now this is inspirational! ... more power to you Anjali

[shrishti]

God she is just amazing. . I really hope more Indian women like her both abroad and at home..she is an inspiration for many of us❤️❤️

[ellendukes]

Congratulations!
As a professional women, to see you reach this goal for yourself, your are a wonderful illustration for other young women and young men.
I am very proud of you,
and always, remember to reach back.
Again, congratulations!
Best Always.

[Nedwin]

What an inspiring talk Anjali. Good luck for Vimeo.

[mohdshahnawaz]

Congratulations Anjali. Lots of love from an Australian 🇦🇺😀