Ergen steps down as DISH President
December 11, 2015
Pay-TV platform DISH Network is carrying out a series of senior management changes intended to fulfil the company’s strategic goals and align its business to more fully respond to the dynamic pay-TV environment.
DISH veteran of 20 years and EVP of Operations, Erik Carlson, has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. Carlson will supervise all DISH revenue-generating, operating and administrative units, including Customer Acquisition and Retention, Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Media Sales, Programming, Operations and DISH’s newly formed Technology Office.
Current DISH COO and EVP Bernie Han was named EVP of Strategic Planning and will continue reporting to DISH Chairman and CEO Charlie Ergen, who is relinquishing the role of DISH President.
“Bernie’s unparalleled depth as an operational and financial leader will be indispensable as we advance our work on the strategic transformation of DISH, including our entry into the wireless industry,” said Ergen.
“Erik joined us just before our first satellite launch and has consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership across his many assignments throughout our business,” said Ergen. “He has a clear vision for how DISH will deliver the best customer experience and claim share in our category.”
Like Han, Carlson will report to Ergen, as will EVP of Corporate Development Tom Cullen, EVP and General Counsel Stanton Dodge and Sling TV CEO Roger Lynch.
The following individuals will report to Carlson:
- Vivek Khemka: Khemka has been promoted to EVP and Chief Technology Officer and formerly served as DISH’s SVP of Product Management.
- Mike McClaskey: EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer
- Brian Neylon: Neylon has been promoted to EVP of Customer Acquisition and Retention and formerly served as DISH’s SVP of Sales.
- Warren Schlichting: Schlichting has been promoted to EVP of Marketing, Programming, and Media Sales and formerly served DISH as SVP of Programming and Media Sales.
- Steve Swain: SVP and CFO
- John Swieringa: Swieringa has been promoted and will assume Carlson’s role as EVP of Operations. Swieringa formerly served as DISH’s SVP and CIO.
Rob Dravenstott, who most recently served as DISH VP of IT Application Development, has been promoted to SVP and CIO and will report to Swieringa.
Additionally, DISH has appointed Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller Paul Orban, who reports to Swain, as Chief Accounting Officer.