RealNetworks picks former Adobe VP as its CEO
updated 06:45 pm EDT, Tue November 1, 2011
Former Adobe exec ran Photoshop unit
RealNetworks on Tuesday named Thomas Nielsen as its new CEO. Neilsen headed Adobe's Digital Imaging business unit that included the Photoshop, Photoshop and Premiere Elements, and Lightroom apps. Neilsen is assuming the permanent position that had been left open by the sudden departure of Bob Kimball earlier this year.
In January 2010, Rob Glaser, the company's founder stepped down as CEO. He was replaced by Kimball, initially in an interim capacity. Kimball then led the company through a painful restructuring, which included several rounds of layoffs. This March, saying his job was largely done, Kimball unexpectedly resigned. He was then replaced by EVP Mike Lunsford as interim CEO until a permanent executive was found. Lunsford will remain with the company, reporting to Nielsen as an executive.
Glaser, who still holds the position as chairman of the board, believes that Nielsen is well positioned to hit the ground running. "There’s a lot of adjacency and commonality in the understanding of technological trends, market dynamics, that Thomas brings to the party," he said.
He added that the former Adobe vice president has the right mix of product expertise and business experience in home products and digital media to go to RealNetworks, whose best-known work is in Internet video. [via GeekWire]
