Ember Corporation (www.ember.com), provider of wireless embedded networking solutions for device to device communications, today announced the appointment of Jeffrey H. Grammer as president and chief executive officer. Adrian Tuck, interim CEO, will remain with the company and continue as vice president of business development. Grammer has also joined Ember's board of directors.
As president and CEO of Ember, Grammer will oversee worldwide operations. He will be responsible for managing the execution of product development, sales, and marketing efforts as well as the company's global expansion into Europe and Asia. Grammer will focus his immediate efforts on fundraising as the company works to close its Series B round of financing.
Grammer's breadth of knowledge is derived from experience as both a successful founder and CEO and time spent in the venture capital community. He is uniquely equipped with a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by early stage companies as well as the operational expertise required to position Ember for worldwide success. Grammer's background in international business markets endows Ember with the strong leadership and expertise necessary to deliver on the promise of a global standard for wireless embedded networking.
"Having a world-class executive and leader like Jeff join our team is very exciting - it's the next step in establishing Ember as the standard for wireless embedded networking," said Dr. Robert Poor, Ember's co-founder and CTO. "This, in conjunction with our ongoing pilot programs, is an important milestone in the development of Ember as a company."
Prior to joining Ember, Grammer most recently was a co-founder and managing director at TechFarm, an early-stage private equity firm. While at TechFarm, he nurtured companies such as 3Dfx, ChipWrights, Sionex and Imperito. Grammer co-founded N*ABLE Technologies, where he served as the company's president and chief executive officer, before joining TechFarm in 2000. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of Databook Incorporated, a leading PCMCIA designer and manufacturer.
In 1991 Grammer was president and CEO of Summit Systems, a government-sponsored joint venture based in Minsk. In addition to offering workstations and networking equipment, Summit Systems assembled private label computers. In 1985, he joined Chips and Technologies, Inc. to direct its marketing organization. While there, he held various management positions, developed a European sales representative and distributor network, and created a software operation specializing in BIOS and driver development. Grammer got his high-tech industry start at Intel, where he developed their systems business in the financial transactions market. Grammer holds BA and MA degrees in international economics from Boston University.
"As a serial entrepreneur, I'm delighted to join an early stage company that has a clear vision to address real market needs," said Grammer. "When you consider the number of microcontrollers sold each year-about 7 billion-the market opportunity to create the 'Internet for Small Things' with device-to-device communications is enormous. Over the last decade there's been a network explosion driven by the connecting of people. Ember's future lies in the as yet unexplored arena of connecting billions of unattended things, something that simply has not been feasible until now. I'm very excited to drive Ember's plan for realizing this incredible promise."
About Ember Corporation
Ember Corporation provides wireless embedded networking platforms for sensing and control applications. Ember's patented approach defines the wireless embedded networking standard to link the billions of embedded processors shipped annually. Ember solutions enable intelligent wireless networks that are dramatically less expensive, easier to deploy, and better functioning in difficult environments than existing wired and wireless alternatives. Based in Boston, Mass., with roots in the MIT Media Lab, Ember was founded with funding from Polaris Venture Partners, GrandBanks Capital, Dr. Robert Metcalfe, DFJ New England and Stata Venture Partners. More information is available at www.ember.com.
