Bruce Swail, who held the position of CEO since 2017, has been replaced by Spicek.
Barbara Spicek has joined GatesAir, a Thomson Broadcast subsidiary dedicated to wireless content delivery, as its CEO, effective immediately.
She joins GatesAir following three years leading as an executive at Vizrt Group. In 2020, she accepted the role of President and General Manager for NewTek heading the company’s live production business.
Bruce Swail, CEO since 2017, is retiring from GatesAir after several years of sustained performance, most notably in optimising the company’s position in the FCC Spectrum Repack programme.
With Spicek’s leadership, the company will expand its international footprint as well as its offerings of products and solutions, including carrying the brand’s legacy of TV broadcasts and radio transmissions forward, while expanding its business opportunities at the same time.
Spicek joins GatesAir with a business leadership background of nearly three decades, with executive roles at Fortune 500 companies such as Brocade Communications and Veritas Technologies.
Speaking about the new role, Spicek said: “GatesAir’s longevity speaks for itself, and we will continue to innovate for the global over-the-air broadcast market. Business opportunities for TV, FM and digital radio systems continue to grow worldwide, and GatesAir’s Intraplex networking business has flourished as broadcasters accelerate their IP transitions. I see clear opportunities for GatesAir to bring new cloud and software-based solutions to market, both within its product portfolio and in collaboration with Thomson Broadcast and an extended ecosystem. That adds up to phenomenal growth opportunity for GatesAir, fueled through a strong company foundation anchored by Thomson’s supportive ownership.”
Aby Alexander, President – USA, Thomson Broadcast, added: “Barbara brings an amazing skillset to GatesAir that assures continued business growth through her proven track record as a proactive, innovative and strategic business leader. Her ability to define a company’s business direction and corporate culture align well with our vision to move the GatesAir brand into exciting new places.”
Ylias Akbaraly, Chairman of Redland, the holding company of the Sipromad Group and Thomson Broadcast, stated: “When we committed to acquiring GatesAir, we challenged ourselves to develop ideas that would increase the company’s global footprint. That includes a business integration strategy that allows the GatesAir brand to thrive, and empowers both companies to develop more complete solutions for our customers. As we searched for a new CEO, we were determined to find the right leader to help us enact our vision. That leader is Barbara, and we are excited at the possibilities that lie in front of us moving forward. We thank Bruce for his important contributions and look forward to the next phase of GatesAir under Barbara’s leadership.”
