Sirius Satellite Radio, the satellite radio broadcaster, today announced it hired consumer electronics and telecommunications veteran Joseph P. Clayton, 52, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Clayton joins Sirius from Global Crossing, the global internet and long distance services provider, where he was vice chairman.
Mr. Clayton previously served as chief executive officer of Frontier Corporation, a Rochester-based national provider of local telephone, long distance, data, conferencing and wireless communications services, until its acquisition by Global Crossing in October 1999. Mr. Clayton succeeds David Margolese, Sirius’ founder and chairman, who stepped down as Chief Executive Officer in October.
In addition to his leadership in the telecommunications industry, Mr. Clayton brings years of experience in the consumer electronics field, having held senior management positions at Thomson MultiMedia, GE’s Consumer Electronics Division and RCA Corporation. At Thomson MultiMedia, Mr. Clayton was instrumental in the development and launch of the consumer equipment for DirecTV, the nation’s largest satellite-to-home television provider.
“I am very excited to take the helm of Sirius,” stated Mr. Clayton. “Sirius offers a tremendous opportunity – a unique branded service that will revolutionize the way people listen to radio. With our commercial launch set for early 2002, Sirius is poised to complete its transformation from a development stage enterprise into a premier entertainment company. I am looking forward to leading Sirius and making the Sirius brand a household name.”
The Board of Directors of Sirius, stated, “Joe’s wealth of experience in bringing high-tech products and services to consumers makes him the logical choice to lead Sirius forward. He is a strong manager and a proven leader with a great track record in building stockholder value. He understands technology, but most important, knows how to market and create brands in the consumer electronics field. Joe’s reputation and stature across corporate America will facilitate our existing relationships with our strategic partners and, we are certain, lead to new and enhanced opportunities, especially with partners in the consumer electronics distribution and OEM categories. We are thrilled he is joining the team.”
Mr. Clayton currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for Indiana University School of Business, and as trustees of Bellarmine College, Louisville, Kentucky, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Global Crossing Ltd, the global internet and long distance services provider, The E.W. Scripps Company, the operator of 21 newspapers, ten television stations and three national cable and satellite television networks, and Good Guys Inc., the west coast based consumer electronics retailer with 79 stores. Mr. Clayton formerly acted as chairman of the Consumer Electronics Association.
Mr. Clayton earned an M.B.A. in Marketing and Management from Indiana University and is a magna cum laude graduate of Bellarmine College with a B.A. in Business Administration.