Lars Boilesen Succeeds von Tetzchner As Opera Software’s New CEO
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A changing of the guard at mobile browsing powerhouse Opera Software—as co-founder and CEO Jon von Tetzchner is stepping down—with long-time vet Lars Boilesen taking his place. Von Tetzchner ran Opera for 15 years; he’ll stay on full-time in a “strategic” capacity, though no word on his official title.
SEE ALSO: Opera, Motricity Help To Roll Out AT&T’s New Mobile Web Experience
Boilesen (pictured) had been serving as Opera’s chief commercial officer since January 2009; he joined the company in 2000 and spent five years as EVP of sales, before leaving to head up Alcatel-Lucent as CEO of the Nordics and Baltics.
Both Boilesen and von Tetzchner were instrumental in helping Opera grow into a multi-platform (with an emphasis on mobile) browser software provider, as opposed to just a bit player in the desktop browser market. And though the company maintains that the change in leadership won’t derail the execution of its current strategy, Boilesen is taking the reins in the midst of a mobile browsing boom that Opera is primed to capitalize on.
The company has been giving both Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) and Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) serious competition in the fight for mobile browser supremacy: AT&T picked Opera as its preferred mobile browser for a “refreshed” experience on its feature phones late last year, and last May, Opera edged out Safari as the most-used mobile browser in the world. Release.
Posted In: Industry Moves, Mobile, Technologies / Formats, Browsers, opera
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