The board of submarine network technology vendor Xtera has named Keith Henderson chief executive officer and Leigh Frame as chief operating officer (COO). Henderson replaces Douglas Umbers, moving up from the COO role he assumed shortly after H.I.G. Capital acquired the company at this time last year (see "Xtera reveals new management team"). Umbers had been serving as CEO on an interim basis.
Keith joined the company in 2004 and co-founded the current incarnation of Xtera when it emerged from bankruptcy with the H.I.G. acquisition and shifted its attention solely to the subsea network market. He has more than 20 years of operations management experience, including executive posts with BAE Systems, Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), and STC.
"With the increasing growth in demand, new entrants to the market, and an overall desire for commercial and technical change, the industry is shifting and Xtera's evolution serves to meet the future needs of its customers," says Keith. "I am delighted to take up the position of CEO and to be joined by Leigh at such an important time for the business. Xtera has always been a company that embraces change and we look forward to working together with all our partners to ensure that we continue to offer the most advanced solutions."
Leigh is a newcomer to Xtera. He most recently served as COO of ASN and has more than 25 years of experience in the submarine network space. He will be responsible for Xtera's strategy in the areas of OEM sales, technology licensing, turnkey and disaggregated system offerings, and subsea upgrades.
"We are lucky to be working in a time of radical change in what a telecoms service is, how it is delivered, and who delivers it," said Leigh. "There is a need for the normally conservative subsea industry to pick up the pace, innovate, and adapt to new customers and unprecedented market growth with fresh products and different ways of doing business. Joining a technology company like Xtera now is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to this."
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