Row 44 has promoted John LaValle to CEO, as part of a management reshuffle that will see former CEO and co-founder John Guidon assume the role of chief technology officer (CTO), the APEX editor’s blog can reveal.
Previously COO and CFO for Row 44, LaValle, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, “has taken a few companies public”, notes Row 44 chief commercial officer Howard Lefkowitz.
LaValle’s online bio reads: “In his more than 20 years with technology companies, John LaValle has completed three successful IPOs, a high-value acquisition and one of the largest secondary offerings in internet history, as well as helping to raise over $1.3 billion in funding. John’s successful track record includes COO and/or CFO roles at National Beverage Properties, TelASIC Communications, Kotura, Inc., Stamps.com (IPO 1999), Comcore Semiconductor (purchased by National Semiconductor), Trikon Technologies (IPO 1995), Superconductor Technologies (IPO 1992) and PS Medical (purchased by Medtronic).”
In assuming the role of CTO, John Guidon is getting back “to his core competencies, and his personal passions around the technology and less the running of the organization”, says Lefkowitz.
Long-time president and co-founder Gregg Fialcowitz has left the company “to pursue some things he’s been working on in private aviation”, he adds.
Founded in 2004, Westlake Village, California-based Row 44 provides Ku-band satellite-supported in-flight internet to airlines. The company is in the midst of fitting Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737 fleet with the system, and counts Norwegian Air Shuttle among its customers. Row 44 has also forged multiple deals to bring IPTV programming to passengers in advance of launching a multi-media portal for Southwest.
Chicago-headquartered Gogo, which competes against Row 44 in the United States with a dedicated air-to-ground (ATG)-based system, late last year filed for an initial public offering (IPO) of shares in a bid to raise up to $100 million.
Asked if Row 44 has any designs on going public, Lefkowitz says: “We see this [Gogo’s IPO filing] as good news, further confirmation that the investment community sees long-term value in this industry. As for Row 44, we don’t’ discuss our business plans but you can expect some big news from us in the New Year.”
January 17, 2012 at 2:19 am
Hey Mary,
Good news on Row44, thanks for the update. On a more exciting note the Aviation Hearld reported today that the Arm Rest of a bussiness class seat caught on fire with Passenger in it. Just a little some thing to make your day a litte more exciting!
http://www.avherald.com/h?article=44950137&opt=0
January 18, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Thanks so much for the heads up! When I first read your post I was wondering if the incident had anything to do with a Koito seat.