Paul Ranger, an exec last with Cisco Systems, has joined advanced advertising firm BlackArrow as vice president, sales, according to an update made to his LinkedIn profile.
Ranger most recently was with Cisco, coming on board after Cisco completed its $5 billion acquisition of video security and software company NDS in 2012. Ranger was with NDS for about a decade.
BlackArrow has been asked for further comment about Ranger's appointment, but he is joining the company as it pushes ahead with new growth strategies, including a recent expansion into Europe that has yielded its first deal in the region, with Virgin Media, the U.K.’s largest cable operator that’s now part of the Liberty Global empire. BlackArrow estimated at the time that the addition of Virgin Media will push its reach to more than 37 million homes, complementing deployments with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, and Rogers Communications. Also last year, BlackArrow president Nick Troiano assumed the duties of CEO following the resignation of Dean Denhart.
Updated: BlackArrow confirmed the appointment, noting that, in his new role, Ranger will be focused on the BlackArrow's client base in North America.
“I’m delighted to be joining the BlackArrow team at such a pivotal time for the TV advertising industry," Ranger said, in a statement. "I look forward to partnering with pay-TV operators and content providers to help monetize time-shifted and linear video delivered to any screen, at any time. BlackArrow’s market leading advertising platform and data solutions offer flexible ad models that are enabling next-generation advertising in millions of homes around the world.”
Ranger most recent served as as senior business development manager of video software and solutions technology at Cisco, leading business development and account management efforts for strategic accounts such as AT&T, Verizon Communications, Cablevision Systems, Shaw Communications, Rogers, and Cox Communications.
Before his Cisco and NDS days, Ranger worked at BSkyB, where he helped the company introduce interactive TV capabilities in Europe.
Photo credit: The TV of Tomorrow Show.
