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ThingWorx Accelerates International Expansion with Appointment in EMEAEXTON, Pa., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ThingWorx(TM), the provider of the first application development platform for the connected world, today announced the appointment of Ken Forster as head of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). In this new role for the company, Ken will be responsible for developing the ThingWorx customer base and partner ecosystem in EMEA, further expanding ThingWorx's global reach. The proliferation of connected devices and sensors is creating an enormous demand for new Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. According to leading device and network companies such as Ericsson and Cisco, the number of connected devices and machines is expected to reach 50 billion devices by 2020. Many leading companies are turning to ThingWorx as their platform of choice for rapidly build applications and make business decisions based on data from these connected devices, allowing them to capitalize on this rapidly expanding market opportunity. "We are very pleased to have Ken join our team and believe he is an excellent choice to help us grow and realize our potential in EMEA," stated ThingWorx CEO Russ Fadel. "With the number of smart, connected devices growing from 1B to 50B over the next 10 years, the demand for the ThingWorx rapid application development platform is growing across all markets and geographies. Ken has the background and experience to help us service this demand." Mr. Ken Forster has been building innovative products, teams, and global businesses for over 25 years. He has held senior leadership roles at Syngenta, The Coca-Cola Company, and Philip Morris, co-founded three industrial automation companies including ObjectAutomation, and was an early evangelist of PC-based automation at Lockheed and Wonderware. Mr. Forster received an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University and an engineering degree from Cogswell Polytech. He currently resides in Basel, Switzerland. "My previous experience with intelligent products and control systems helped me see the value of connected products, and how they can help transform a business in today's connected world. This perspective helped me develop intelligent business models and solutions from consumer marketing to operations fulfillment and upstream sourcing. What attracted me to ThingWorx was that they are building a truly revolutionary software platform for both connecting products and devices, and making them intelligent and integrated into a company's business processes," said Forster. "I can think of no better company to be in to help usher in the connected world. I am excited about the opportunity to join such a talented group and look forward to making ThingWorx a great success." About ThingWorx ThingWorx(TM) provides the first platform designed to efficiently build and run the applications of today's connected world. ThingWorx's model-based design and search-based intelligence reduces application development efforts by 10X, minimizing cost, risk and time to market. The ThingWorx platform combines the key functionality of Web 2.0, search, and social collaboration, and applies it to the world of "things," including connected products, machines, sensors, and industrial equipment. Businesses use the ThingWorx platform to rapidly deliver innovative applications and connected solutions across markets ranging from manufacturing, energy, and food, to Machine-to-Machine (M2M) remote monitoring and service, as well as in emerging Internet of Things applications, including smart cities, smart grid, agriculture, and transportation. For more information, please visit our website at www.thingworx.com and our blog at www.thingworx.com/blog or follow us on Twitter at @ThingWorx. Contact: Stacey Schwind (610) 594-6200 This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com. SOURCE ThingWorx http://rt.prnewswire.com/rt.gif NewsItemId=PH05971&Transmission_Id=201305020840PR_NEWS_USPR_____PH05971&DateId=20130502 |
