Fidler Named Digeo CEO
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 8/22/2005
San Diego— Sony shuffled its sales and marketing team following the departure of home products division senior VP Mike Fidler, who was appointed CEO for cable-operator supplier Digeo.
Sony's senior sales VP Randy Waynick, a 20-year Sony veteran, has taken over Fidler's position at Sony. Waynick was responsible for multiple national accounts, including Best Buy, and reported directly to consumer sales president Stan Glasgow. Waynick's Best Buy responsibilities have been assumed by Ken Stevens, senior sales VP of Sony's central zone. At press time, Sony hadn't disclosed the names of people taking over Waynick's other accounts.
Mike will accelerate Digeo's efforts to capitalize on the growing market for media centers and continue the development of Digeo's market-leading technology, said Paul G. Allen, chairman of the Digeo board of directors. Mike has a proven track record of bringing innovative products like these to market. In addition, he has a wealth of experience building industry partnerships that will be crucial to the success of Digeo within the industry.
Digeo, backed primarily by Paul Allen's Vulcan investment group, supplies media center platforms that combine digital set-top boxes and DVRs with digital-music and -image storage.
As CEO of the Kirkland, Wash.-based Digeo, Fidler will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of the company and implementing initiatives to move Digeo beyond its position as a successful technology start-up, Digeo said.
While Sony's senior VP, Fidler was responsible for marketing televisions, home audio/video, and IT and professional displays. Fidler's accomplishments at Sony, Digeo said, include the orchestration of Sony's DVD launch, leading the team responsible for Sony's TiVo partnership, promoting the new Blu-ray Disc format, and directing Sony's design and engineering group for set-top boxes. He is one of the founders and VPs of the Digital Entertainment Group, an industry-funded non-profit organization.
Before joining Sony, Fidler was senior VP of Pioneer Electronics.
