Former Pandora COO takes up OnLive role

Cloud-based gaming-on-demand service OnLive has hired a new chief operating officer in the person of Etienne Handman, formerly of similarly structured music network, Pandora.

As reported in GamesBeat, the company's chief executive, Steve Perlman, said Handman's existing relationships with major entertainment studios would prove valuable.

The new hire coincides with confirmation that OnLive intends to begin offering movies to users over the coming year.

Handman's experience navigating the treacherous legalities of multi-territorial music licensing is sure to benefit OnLive during its announced furture expansion to the UK, Belgium and Luxemburg - and beyond.

OnLive is currently in the process of launching properly in the US, with flat-rate subs of $9.99 per month available to the public from January 15 onwards.