D-Link Top Execs Out Amid Reorg

According to D-Link, Steven Joe, D-Link Systems president and CEO, and Keith Karlsen, executive vice president and D-Link's channel chief, were let go last week.

Joe had been with D-Link for more than two decades, starting with Fountain Valley, Calif.-based D-Link Systems at the time of its inception in 1986. He took over the role of president and CEO in January 2004. Karlsen joined D-Link in 2002.

D-Link did not provide additional details on Joe's and Karlsen's departures, except to say that they were part of the reorganization and consolidation of the company's North and South American management structure "in order to better position the company and enhance D-Link's capabilities in the Americas."

"D-Link is appreciative of the many years of service provided by Steven Joe, the former president and CEO and Keith Karlsen, the former executive vice president of D-Link Systems, and wishes them well on their future endeavors," Tony Tsao, D-Link Corp.'s president and CEO said in a statement. D-Link Systems is a subsidiary of D-Link Corp.

Effective immediately, Carlos Casassus Fontecilla, a 10-year D-Link veteran who formerly served as head of Latin America, has been named president of Pan America. Meanwhile, Nick Tidd, who for the past nine months has held the role of vice president of North American channel development, will serve as vice president of sales for Pan America and vice president of marketing for North America.

"It is important the company make changes that improve its ability to overcome market challenges and to better leverage resources in order to take full advantage of emerging opportunities," Tsao said in the statement. "We are confident that this reorganization and consolidation of North and South American senior management structure will enable the company to better expand its business in key areas such as the SME and telecom markets, and enhance D-Link's overall capabilities in the Americas."