CableLabs CEO Liao to resign

CableLabs said Friday that it is searching for a new chief executive, after CEO Paul Liao told the technology consortium that he won't renew his contract when it expires in December 2012.

Liao

Liao cited "personal reasons" in his decision to step down, CableLabs said. The former Panasonic executive has held the top post at CableLabs since June 2009. He succeeded cable industry veteran Richard Green, who had held the CEO post since CableLabs was formed in 1988.

"Although Paul has been with CableLabs for a relatively short period of time, his contributions have been great and include establishing new programs that are helping the industry grow its broadband and commercial businesses, as well as drive cable's ability to provide services to smart CE devices using IP technology," Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) CEO and CableLabs chairman Glenn Britt said in a prepared statement.

CableLabs has led the development of cable technology specifications and standards such as DOCSIS, EBIF and tru2way. With consumers relying increasingly on connected TVs and mobile devices such as Apple's iPad to view and navigate video content, Liao's successor will face the challenge of ensuring that legacy cable platforms and interactive TV technology standards such as EBIF remain relevant and capable of integrating with more advanced IP-based technology.

Liao, 66, did not say what he plans to do next. "I've felt truly honored to be working with a tremendous group of people, both at CableLabs and throughout the cable industry. With new technologies emerging every day, it is an extremely exciting time for the cable industry and specifically for CableLabs. I remain fully committed to the team at CableLabs and will support the efforts of the Board in its search for my successor," Liao said in the CableLabs statement.

For more:
- see CableLabs' news release

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