Former RealNetworks CEO Joins Brightcove

Thomas Nielsen, an exec late of Real Networks, Adobe and Microsoft, has been named senior vice president of products of Web video publishing company Brightcove.

Nielsen, who reports to Brightcove CEO David Mendels, most recently served as president and CEO of RealNetworks. Nielsen joined RealNetworks from Adobe Systems in November 2011, and resigned in July 2012. He was replaced by RealNetworks chairman and founder Rob Glaser, who is currently serving as Real’s interim CEO.

In his new role at Brightcove, Nielsen will head up the company’s product strategy and its product development, product management and engineering teams.

“I am confident that Thomas is the right person to drive our product execution and roadmap both now and in the future as we continue to scale our organization and enable our customers to reach their audiences on every screen through online video solutions,” said Mendels, in a statement.

“To join Brightcove now, at this energizing stage of technology development and innovation, is very exciting. I look forward to helping the company scale as it continues to expand its leadership in online video delivery and management,” added Nielsen.

Prior to his brief stint at RealNetworks, Nielsen was VP of Adobe’s digital imaging group,

Brightcove, which counts Comcast-backed thePlatform among its rivals, launched a live streaming module in May that also put it in competition with Ustream and Livestream.

Brightcove ended the first quarter of 2013 with 6,321 customers, up from 4,254 at the end of the year-ago quarter, and posted a non-GAAP loss of $1.2 million on revenues of $24.7 million.