Vernon Irvin, a 20-year marketing executive who, since 2003, served as executive VP/GM of the communications services group VeriSign, will join XM Satellite Radio as chief marketing officer, effective Nov. 14.
Irvin, 45, will oversee XM’s strategic marketing efforts with responsibility for a number of operating groups, including media and brand marketing; retail, direct and partnership marketing; and marketing operations, which includes service offerings, pricing, retention and market research. He will report to the newly arrived XM president/COO, Nate Davis.
At VeriSign, which operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable and protect billions of interactions across the world’s voice and data networks and has revenues of $975.7 million and more than 2,000 employees in 19 countries, Irvin oversaw a number of areas, including sales, marketing, product management, strategic development, and network operations. He also oversaw high-growth initiatives such as the launch of Jamster, VeriSign’s consumer $600 million ringtone business, which at its peak counted millions of mobile and online music consumers. During his tenure, revenue for the communications services group doubled to $850 million in two years. According to a December 2005 profile in Forbes magazine, Irvin earned more than $1 million annually in salary and stock options at VeriSign.
“Vernon is a dynamic leader who brings to XM a winning track record of building great brands and growing businesses,” said Davis. “His impressive operating experience combined with his strong creative instincts and relationships in the entertainment industry will make Vernon a driving force as we extend XM’s industry leadership.”
“I’ve been at the center of cutting edge, rapid-growth businesses, and I know that XM has a great product that can continue to grow significantly,” Irvin said. “I look forward to joining XM’s dynamic executive team to help the company expand its leadership position through effective marketing of its outstanding content and its world-class technology.”
On Saturday (Oct. 28), Irvin will be recognized at the seventh annual 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology Pinnacle Awards luncheon in San Francisco as an one of the overachievers in a new generation of innovators.
