February 22, 2008 – THERE’S been a reshuffle at the top of handheld IFE provider digEcor, with chief operating officer Brad Heckel taking on the duties of president. Former president Brent Wood continues as chief executive.

The Utah-based company has also appointed former Novell senior developer Drake Backman as principal engineer and manager of software development.

Heckel is digEcor’s third president in as many years, following Greg Beeston, appointed in 2005, and Wood, who took the reins subsequently. He arrives in office at a time when the company has set itself some big targets. Last month it announced that over the next 12 months it would transform itself into a full-service company, broadening its content offering, helping its airline customers to earn ancillary revenues, and entering markets beyond air transport in pursuit of sales and profit growth.

Having recorded a near 50 per cent increase in revenues last year, digEcor said it aimed to double sales and triple profits in 2008. “We will be offering new programmes and becoming a more complete service provider,” said Heckel, who joined the company last October. “In addition to more flexible content and hardware services, we will also package revenue from advertisers and other sources to provide reduced costs or income opportunities for our customers.”

Target markets outside air transport include healthcare and the maritime industry. “Hospitals, healthcare facilities and medical transportation providers are piloting our digEplayer for patients, visitors and staff members,” said Heckel. Potential applications are entertainment, gambling, shopping, and delivery of ship and shore information.