In this week's workforce wrap-up, Ericsson announced changes to its executive team, Mobetize named a new chairman and Vdopia welcomed a new senior vice president. Additionally, Brightstar Corp. and TeliaSonera reported new chief financial officers.
Ericsson's senior vice president resigns
On April 14, Ericsson noted significant changes in its executive team, including the resignation of Douglas Gilstrap, the company's senior vice president and global head of strategy. Gilstrap is scheduled to leave the organization on Aug. 1. He was first appointed to the position in 2009 and worked to further the company's overall business strategy.
"Douglas has been instrumental in shaping Ericsson's strategy with his broad industry knowledge, business development and transactional skills during the five years that he has been with the company," said Ericsson president and CEO Hans Vestberg.
Mobetize appoints new executive chairman
On April 15, Mobetize Corp. announced that Dr. Malek Ladki was appointed as the organization's new executive chairman. Ladki was previously a member of the Mobetize advisory board and will begin his new role immediately. Before Mobetize, Ladki worked in the telecommunications infrastructure industry for more than 23 years, and he will leverage his business growth and senior management experience as the new executive chairman. Previously, Ladki held positions with Tonalis Limited, Jersey Telecom and also founded Sensustech Limited, Tactus Limited and Aethos Communications Systems.
"Apart from founding, growing and exiting a number of telecoms and IT products/solutions businesses, [Malek] also has been extensively involved in the launch of several first-tier telcos in Europe and the U.S.," said Mobetize president Stephen Fowler. "Malek has added invaluable vision and depth to our board as we focus on growing our company both organically and through strategic M&A."
Vdopia Inc. welcomes new senior vice president
Also on April 15, mobile video advertising firm Vdopia Inc. announced its new senior vice president of sales, Jason Shulman. In this newly established San Francisco-based position, Shulman will focus on expanding the business's footprint in North America as well as increase overall revenues. Before coming to Vdopia, Shulman was head of sales for Spotzot, an industry-first company providing a location-based consumer marketing service. Shulman said he decided to join the company due to the current "mobile first" environment, where more processes are carried out on mobile devices.
"This creates exciting opportunities to help content developers and marketers use mobile video in particular to help move their business forward," Shulman said.
Brightstar Corp.'s new chief financial officer
On April 15, Brightstar Corp. appointed Vincent Donargo as the new chief financial officer, according to The Wall Street Journal. The former CFO, Thomas Seifert, left the firm last month to serve as vice president and CFO for security provider Symantec Corp. Before coming to Brightstar, Donargo held an executive vice position at technology distributor Ingram Micro Inc.
TeliaSonera names new chief financial officer
On April 11, Swedish telco TeliaSonera welcomed its new chief financial officer, Christian Luiga, who previously served as acting CFO after the departure of Per-Arne Blomquist. Former CFO Blomquist was dismissed by the company in November after an ethics investigation, The Wall Street Journal reported.
