Senior RIM Guy Signs On As ScreenScape CTO

January 10, 2013 by Dave Haynes

It has been tough, as a Canadian, to see Research In Motion go on a downward slide in the past couple of years, but the waning popularity of BlackBerries and resulting staff reductions has been a bit of a boon for other technology companies.

I have met some ex-RIM people at tech sector networking events in my area (RIM HQ is about an hour from my door). There are former RIM people with phenomenal resumes floating around, looking for the right next gig.

One ex-RIM guy has hooked up with digital signage software provider ScreenScape Networks, as its new CTO. Ken Schneider spent six years at RIM, including a senior director stint holding overall responsibility for BlackBerry’s system architecture.

“In Ken we have hired a hands-on CTO with the skill and experience necessary to strengthen the company through our current growth phase,” says Mark Hemphill, ScreenScape Founder and CEO. “Ken is a pioneer in the advancement of software for Internet-connected devices. To build a secure, global, high performance network like ScreenScape’s, you need a seasoned technologist like Ken to lead the way. His expertise reinforces ScreenScape’s technology advantage in this exciting new market.”

Schneider has 30 years in software and came out of the University of Waterloo’s very highly regarded Computer Science program.

“I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to be part of such an exciting company, which within a short period of time has emerged as clear leader in an explosive market. ScreenScape’s existing products, coupled with the vision of the senior leadership team and the great people in Charlottetown and Oakville made the decision to join ScreenScape an easy one,” says Schneider, ScreenScape CTO.

Schneider will be based out of the Oakville, Ontario (greater Toronto) office but will likely get very familiar with the Air Canada flights to and from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, which is HQ for the company. Hemphill has worked with Schneider in the past and describes him as “a rare breed of hands-on technical leader.”

Seems like a good pick-up for the company, which is planning to add some interesting new wrinkles to their offer in the first half of this year.