PeopleWatch…

Ziggo: Deutsche Telekom CEO Rene Obermann will become the CEO of the Dutch cable operator on Jan. 1, 2014, succeeding the retiring Bernard Dijkhuizen, who announced his imminent departure at the end of 2013. Dijkhuizen will continue to lead Ziggo through this year and will work with Obermann for a smooth transition. “Rene Obermann’s decision to step down from his role at Deutsche Telekom is not a surprise,” notes Steven Hartley, telecom strategy analyst at Ovum, “yet his next destination has raised a few eyebrows. However, we think the move is a good fit. Herr Obermann has expressed his interest in becoming more entrepreneurial and hands-on, so a fast growing cable operator in the fiercely competitive Dutch market certainly offers the opportunity for thrills. Moving from a telco to a cable company is hardly a quantum leap nowadays as each competes in the same space, albeit coming from historically different perspectives.”
 
ActiveVideo Networks: Murali Nemani, an industry strategist who has led market initiatives for his former employers Cisco Systems and Alcatel-Lucent, joined the company as senior vice president/CMO. He will oversee the positioning of ActiveVideo’s CloudTV platform. Nemani held global responsibility for strategic marketing of Cisco’s mobile Internet products with wireless and wireline operators, and guided their push into small cells and indoor location technology.
 
Level 3 Communications Inc.: CEO James Q. Crowe will be leaving the job at the end of the year, and the board has formed a Transition Planning Committee to help identify and select his replacement.
 
Adara Networks: Steve McChesney is the new vice president/Worldwide Sales for the SDN software provider, responsible for worldwide sales strategy and execution. He comes over from F5 Networks, where he served as vice president/Channel Sales in the Americas.
 
Lyfe Communications: Bob Toombs is heading the Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU) Business for the next-gen media and communication-services provider, focusing primarily on management and sales. He had been senior vice president/Business Development at private cableco Ygnition Networks, managing its Texas market until its recent sale to Access Media 3.
 
Tech Valley Communications: Patrick Coughlin now is senior vice president/Sales & Marketing at the facilities-based service provider that operates networks in New York and northern New England. He had been senior vice president/Sales and Marketing at Fibertower.