Akimbo Systems recruited Thomas F. Frank, a former chief operating officer for RealNetworks, as president and CEO.
Josh Goldman, who has served as CEO of Akimbo since its launch in 2004, will remain on the company’s board of directors.
Akimbo sells a device to watch on-demand videos, downloaded via the Internet, on TV sets. The startup has a distribution deal with AT&T, which offers the Akimbo device as part of the AT&T Homezone service.
Most recently, Frank was president and founder of White Dog Media, a consulting firm for digital-content companies. In addition to RealNetworks, Frank worked for Dick Clark Productions, Leo Burnett Co. and Carolco Television.
Akimbo chairman William R. Hearst III -- who is also a partner at venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers -- said in a prepared statement: “Akimbo is very pleased to have Tom on board. He is a proven executive with an impressive track record of building companies and launching consumer products. His depth of experience in both technology and content is very rare.”
