LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Linksys, a global
leader in home and business Wi-Fi solutions, today announces the
appointment of Harry Dewhirst to
chief executive officer effective immediately. Dewhirst takes on
the role after leading product and business development for the
company as vice president. Dewhirst brings with him a wealth of
entrepreneurial experience, as well as a successful track record
leading organizations in investments, mergers and acquisitions.
"Linksys is taking a deeper dive into its roots as an innovative
wireless technology while forging a new pathway to deliver
enterprise-grade connectivity and security solutions for the new
era of remote working and learning," said Harry Dewhirst, CEO, Linksys. "I look
forward to accelerating the growth of the company as it embarks on
this exciting journey to optimize the management of home and
business networks and redefine itself as a new organization with a
rich heritage in networking."
A seasoned entrepreneur, Dewhirst previously co-founded Amobee,
an advertising technology company, which was bought in 2012 by
SingTel for $321 million. He
also served as the president of leading location data
analytics company Blis, which achieved rapid global expansion
under his leadership. Earlier in his career, Dewhirst founded
boutique venture capital fund Ballpark Ventures, which has invested
in over 40 early-stage technology companies, driving market-leading
returns for investors.
Since its merger with Foxconn Interconnect Technology (HK: 6088)
in 2018, Linksys has been on a pathway to operate as an independent
organization. With the recent strategic alliance with
Fortinet, which included a $75
million investment in Linksys, the two companies have joined
forces to offer remote workers with connectivity and
enterprise-grade security as well as unparalleled quality of
service. Rob Atherton, vice
president of corporate development, Fortinet, has also been
appointed to the Linksys board of directors. A seasoned executive
with a twenty-plus year career driving organic and inorganic growth
in networking and security companies, Atherton is expected to help
steer the company's enterprise growth and go-to-market strategy.
Chet Pipkin has also been named
chairman of the board.
"Linksys is a recognized and award-winning leader in mesh Wi-Fi,
and I have full confidence in Harry's ability to take the
organization to new heights. I'm thrilled to join this innovative
and nimble organization with such a strong legacy in engineering
and consumer technology," said Rob
Atherton, vice president of corporate development, Fortinet,
and board of directors, Linksys. "Together Fortinet and Linksys
will bring new solutions to enterprise organizations navigating the
new era of work by equipping employees with seamless and secure
connectivity to efficiently work from home."
About Linksys
Since 1988, Linksys has been on a mission to connect the world and
build the world's most reliable and innovative wireless technology.
Linksys was the first router brand to ship 100 million units
worldwide. Recognized for its legacy in award-winning mesh hardware
and software portfolio, Linksys connects your smart home or
business with secure and seamless Wi-Fi. Linksys products are
sold in more than 60 countries around the world. In 2018, Linksys
merged with Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) to bolster its
global influence and in 2021, aligned with Fortinet to further
secure and optimize the performance and management of home networks
in today's work from home environment.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linksys-appoints-harry-dewhirst-to-ceo-as-company-sets-its-eyes-on-the-enterprise-301305900.html
SOURCE Linksys