Technology entrepreneur, Chris Barton is the mastermind behind the internationally successful music app, Shazam. Having held senior positions for some of the world’s biggest tech giants, including Google, Chris has been at the forefront of the digital revolution for the duration of his career. Armed with more than two decades of first-hand experience, Chris now educates audiences on innovation, digital disruption and creative persistence, through energetic keynote talks.
Best known for his entrepreneurial venture, Chris founded Shazam in 2000 and was the CEO for 18 years. The business was based on an app Chris developed to discover new music through pioneering recognition technology. Under Chris’ leadership, the Shazam became a global leader and one of the most popular apps to date, downloaded by over 1 billion people. Following such success as a tech entrepreneur, Chris sold Shazam to Apple in a highly lucrative deal in 2018, the fifth largest Apple acquisition in history. A testament to Chris’s futureproofed and creative strategies, Shazam remains a global success.
An Economics and Finance graduate, the latter from the University of Cambridge, Chris embarked on his professional career at Microsoft where he undertook an internship. Following his success in business and tech development, Chris landed the position of Strategic Partnerships in Mobile and later as the Head of Android Business Development for Google across the Americas. A pivotal figure at the world’s largest tech company, Chris spent almost eight years as a senior leader before transitioning to Head of Mobile Operators Business Development for Dropbox, where he furthered his passion for innovative technology.
Since stepping back from spearheading Shazam in 2018, Chris has continued as an entrepreneur, thriving off creative ideas and solving problems, which has led him to his latest venture as Founder and CEO of Guard Inc. Sought after to share his expertise, Chris is a proficient keynote speaker, often booked to discuss such topics as creative persistence, the power of innovation and the qualities of an entrepreneur. With such impressive career experience, Chris has already spoken for numerous clients including American Express and SAP, with impactful results.
