Schmode Assistant Now Runs Avigilon Marketing

By John Honovich, Published Sep 21, 2015, 12:00am EDT

The excitement over Schmode's ouster from Avigilon insiders has quickly turned to concern.

In the first notable act since Schmode's exit, Avigilon's CEO has tapped Schmode's executive assistant to run marketing.

In this note, we look at the move and what this signals about Avigilon's future.

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Comments (18)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

09/21/15 01:17pm
I wonder if these were the people actually doing the work under Schmode. If that's the case they may be used to doing the work of people with far more grandiose titles already. Perhaps Fernandes noticed that or it could be a desperate move to quickly fill those roles with people who are at least familiar with the culture. Either way, congratulations to them for the big boost in titles.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

09/21/15 01:26pm

This is beginning to remind me of the Jim Carrey movie, Fun with Dick And Jane. The CEO promotes people above their skill level all the while padding his Cayman Island account. I wonder how long it will be before we see these new VP's on the "most wanted" lists in the post office? LOL

Undisclosed #3

09/21/15 01:49pm

Forward straight into the buyout line. Um those are moves that shows one of two things. One the man running the show is so out of touch he needs to go, or two the company is so broke they have no choice but to promote from within. Either way some one may pick up them up on the cheap here in a couple months.

Undisclosed #4

IPVMU Certified | 09/21/15 08:43pm

The way the CFO is viewed, both inside and outside the company is key. He must be more experienced and senior than the other executives, or else problems will ensue. This needed to be addressed.

These 'battlefield promotions' of junior staff in Marketing may be a step in that direction, and go a long way towards making the CFO's one of the company's most consummate and (relatively) seasoned executives.

Well done. ;)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 09/21/15 09:38pm

Undisclosed 4 - I don't disagree with your initial statement

The way the CFO is viewed, both inside and outside the company is key.

However, I would think that the amount of respect that they recieve should be based on their own merits, not on the relative "juniorness" of their colleagues.

<<Quick Edit>> I didn't notice the ;) at the end of your post, so hopefully your post was laced with sarcasm.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #5 | 09/21/15 09:52pm

From the financial people I have spoken to, the emphasis on age is because he does not come off as being that impressive. So, I think that's more of the conclusion, i.e., "This guy doesn't seem up to task, it must be because he's inexperienced."

Maybe he's an introverted genuis who just does not present well, mabye he is in way over his head. Either way, unless he gets very polished very quick, he will continue to hurt investor confidence.

On the industry side, Avigilon needs someone who will build confidence and credibility. Schmode is an addition by subtraction but they still would benefit from an industry face - an Avigilon "Fredrik Nillson' if you will. Maybe it's the new SVP of Sales. We'll see.

Undisclosed #4

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 09/21/15 10:09pm

Schmode is an addition by subtraction...

That's a damn polite way of saying someone is a negative number...:)

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 09/21/15 10:12pm

And, to clarify, I mean he is an addition by subtraction when it comes to building confidence and credibility. However, he has a track record of delivering / demanding sales numbers so it is still important to see if they can replace / overcome that.

Undisclosed #4

IPVMU Certified | 09/21/15 10:25pm

Just to note that Ms. Wipperfurth was presumably already on her way to another assignment back in June, when Schmode had an job ad placed for a new executive assistant.

Undisclosed #8

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 09/22/15 03:52pm

Yes, but she wasn't on her way from admin to senior director.

Undisclosed Distributor #6

09/22/15 10:18am

Sometimes I wonder if this is an anti-Avigilon site. I think it is really positive that Avigilon promote within and give young people the chance to progress. Is publishing Raven's past rolls supossed to create a negative response ?..we all have to start somewhere. Good luck to her.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #6 | 09/22/15 11:23am

First of all, you are an Avigilon distributor which needs to be disclosed to understand the motivation behind the 'anti-Avigilon site' comment.

Now, as for 'publishing Raven's past', I listed her work history. You are telling me that that is not germane?

That said, I agree with you that everyone has to start somewhere and I do wish her good luck. Indeed, if I was in the position of either of them, I would happily take the promotion and work as hard as I can to deliver.

On the other hand, this does not meant these are prudent moves for Avigilon. Unfortunately, Avigilon has suffered a mass exodus of executives which has brought a spotlight on Avigilon's abilities to retain talent and grow revenue / profits.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #6 | 09/22/15 12:35pm

I believe it has nothing to do with being young and innovative. It has to do with relative experiance. She is an excutive assistant, that means she does what shes told, there no manager experiance or leadership there let alone experiance for the postion unless what she does isnt an executive assistant and needs to be addressed to investors and customers.

after you admitt the problem(you fired him) you have to show you are willing to go above and beyond to get your company back on the right track. that is not what I see. It not about giving a young person a chance its about saving your company before it goes bankrupt. If a 5 year boy in a hot dog oufit dancing on the street can save avigilon then so be it, but based on what we see on paper,(which is what investors, distributors, and customers look at) it appears to be a bad move. Now we could all be wrong in our nay saying but I dont think that going happen and thats my opinion.

on posting past rolls its kinda of important the higher up you go in a company like that. Director of marketing and communication? that could be a really inflated title or a really important one where bad decisions can make or break your company. Seeing as it was before, I think you want to instill confidence where can, rather than feel good promoting from within to just promote from within. so I dont think it was a smear to post past roles, it was meant to be more of a " what is going on here you made a good move to get the cancer out and now this? I dont understand". If he wanted to smear avigilon he could have done a way better job than that.

Undisclosed #7

09/22/15 01:15pm

well, she does have 2 LinkedIn endorsements for Marketing....

Skip Middleton

09/22/15 02:35pm

I think this is desperate and temporary - and I've seen this many times where an assistant is running the company (or a department) based on two things - trust and lack of available talent that will do what is requested of them when it seems incorrect.

There needs to be an executive "quiet period" to re-examine goals and directives. Recruiting needs to be revved up, and unfortunately, the only way sane people that reach goals will happen is with guaranteed contracts heavily incented for turnaround.

That being said, my opinion is fr0m afar - not my circus - not my monkeys...

Undisclosed Manufacturer #9

09/28/15 10:18am

I can think of a certain UK CCTV company which took a similar approach once upon a time.

One might suggest for many/all of the reasons suggested above.

John Honovich

IPVM | 05/12/16 06:46pm

Just 7 months after his big promotion, Avigilon's Director, Global Marketing and Communications Operations has left the company. Interestingly, he (John DeOrian) went to work at Ericsson, which is where Avigilon's VP of Marketing went.

John Honovich

IPVM | 09/25/16 07:27pm

Update: Wipperfurth left Avigilon in August 2016.

In May, Avigilon hired a new VP of of Capital Markets & Communications.

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