Earlier this year Microsoft hired the head of marketing from Oculus, Liz Hamren, to run the company’s efforts as it started building up toward launching a series of VR headsets. We’re starting to see the culmination of those efforts, with a Halo project coming for VR, a $900 all-in entry point for Windows-based VR systems, Steam support and some quality content on the way to the Windows store.
Turns out Oculus found a replacement for Hamren in Rebecca Van Dyck, a veteran of the company who just spent “6 months away,” according to a Facebook update:
In 2014 Facebook acquired Oculus (the leader in virtual reality technology) and as a FB employee, we all got these t-shirts to commemorate the new addition to the family. My daughters immediately co-opted the shirt, telling me I wasn’t cool enough to wear it.
Today that all changes!
I’m super excited to announce that I will be rejoining my Facebook family after 6 months away! Starting next week (September 5th), I’ll be the new Chief Marketing Officer for the Oculus team. Oculus’ virtual reality technology aims to serve Facebook’s mission of “bringing the world closer together” and I’m thrilled to be a part of advancing this mission and advancing virtual reality with all of its zillions of possible incarnations. I can’t wait to dive in and help bring some of world’s most innovative tech products to people across the globe.
I’ve come back from our “semester abroad” energized, with perspective and curiosity. And I’m so excited to start this new chapter, and to earn the right to wear the shirt.
According to a Linkein profile in Rebecca Van Dyck’s name, she worked at Facebook for five years and left in February this year as VP of Consumer and Brand Marketing. She serves on a number of boards including the New York Times. She returns to Facebook’s Oculus as its chief marketing officer.
It will likely fall on Van Dyck to lead marketing efforts as Facebook prepares standalone headsets and ultimately aims to reach billions of people with VR, going way beyond the hardcore gamers that were initially targeted for the Oculus Rift.
