In a move that perhaps signals his desire to focus more on the wireless business, Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) Chairman and CEO Charlie Ergen has placed day-to-day control of the pay-TV business into the hands of 20-year company veteran Erik Carlson, naming him president.
While giving away one of his own titles to Carlson, Ergen moved COO Bernie Han to executive VP of strategic planning. Both will continue to report to Ergen. Executive VP of Corporate Development Tom Cullen, General Counsel Stanton Dodge and Sling TV CEO Roger Lynch will also remain in their lieutenant roles, reporting directly to Ergen.
Ergen called the move an effort "to more fully respond to the dynamic pay-TV environment." There has been mounting speculation that Dish is looking to migrate from its deteriorating core satellite business and focus on streaming initiatives, such as its Sling TV platform, as well as possibly enter the wireless business.
Carlson will head all of Dish's "revenue-generating, operating and administrative units," according to a company announcement, which includes customer acquisition and retention, finance and accounting, human resources, marketing, media sales, programing and operations.
"Erik joined us just before our first satellite launch and has consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership across his many assignments throughout our business," Ergen said. "He has a clear vision for how Dish will deliver the best customer experience and claim share in our category."
Among a number of other shifts, Paul Orban was moved from corporate controller to chief accounting officer, reporting to CFO Steve Swain.
Vivek Khemka, who reports to Carlson, was upped from senior VP of product management to CTO. Also reporting to Carlson, Brian Naylon was promoted to executive VP of customer acquisition and retention from senior VP of sales.
Meanwhile, Warren Schlichting was promoted to executive VP of marketing, programming and media sales, and John Swieringa was promoted into Carlson's old job as executive VP of operations.
For more:
- read this Dish Network press release
- read this Variety story
- read this Deadline Hollywood story
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