Reno, NV–Eight years after launching his business in a garage, Ken Hawk is stepping down as CEO/chairman of batteries and electronic accessories cataloger iGo. Chief financial officer Rick Shaff was named acting president/CEO, and director Michael Edwards was named chairman.
Shaff says that the decision to resign was entirely Hawk’s: “He had been formally considering it for about six months. But he was waiting to find a person that he felt comfortable with to run the multidistribution sales mode that we have.” And that person is senior vice president of sales Lonny Ramos, who—prior to joining iGo just a few weeks ago—had “built very large sales forces” at electronics distributor Ingram Micro, Shaff says.
While Shaff’s new role as president/CEO is technically considered an “acting” one, Shaff says that he’s a strong contender to succeed Hawk—a decision that depends on the board’s decision, which could take as long as six months. “When the board asked me to step in as acting CEO, I said that all depended on the definition of ‘acting,’” Shaff says. “I’m not interested in keeping the seat warm. But if they want to get someone in to get the company focused, then I will do that.” Shaff joined the company in December, having served as vice president of operations for the Sierra Design Group in Reno. Hawk’s resignation comes just two months after the company laid off 20 workers in January. According to Shaff, no additional staff reductions are planned. “The only way that companies can improve is to welcome and accept change, but right now we have no direct plans for staff reductions or staff increases,” he says.