Neil Gaydon will take on the head role at the interactive display technologies firm on Oct. 24. He was most recently the CEO of Pace plc, a set-top box producer in the United Kingdom.
“(Mr.) Gaydon has significant experience in leading and growing companies in highly competitive global markets,” Smart Technologies stated.
“Through a clear strategy and focus on execution, he turned Pace around in less than five years and delivered a ten-fold increase in revenues to $2.3 billion for the year ended December 2011 to become the global market leader.”
Interim CEO Tom Hodson will continue as chief operating officer at Smart Technologies.
The Calgary-based company, which has a presence in Ottawa, has undergone several waves of cutbacks in recent months as demand for its smartboards fluctuated.
In April, co-founders Nancy Knowlton (CEO) and executive chair David Martin both resigned as the company saw falling profits and an adjustment to the firm’s guidance.
Smart Technologies profits plunged more than 94 per cent in its most recent quarter. The company cited a “challenging macro environment for education funding” as a key factor in the decline.
In August, Smart Technologies announced it is planning to slash costs by 10 per cent, but noted that is expected to have a minimal effect on Ottawa operations.
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