ADB Makes More US Cable CutsADB Makes More US Cable Cuts

Set-top and software company Advanced Digital Broadcast (ADB) confirmed that it is moving ahead with more "streamlining" of its U.S. organization, opting to shut down its Philadelphia office and concentrate its domestic resources on its two main offices in Des Moines, Iowa, and Broomfield, Colo.

As a result, SVP and GM of ADB Americas Cable Tim Schermerhorn, who was based in Philly and served as the company's top U.S. cable exec, has resigned, the company confirmed. Schermerhorn joined ADB in 2008 following more than 10 years with Motorola Inc. (now Motorola Mobility LLC ), where he most recently served as senior director of Moto's services business, focused on product management and marketing to wireline service providers and cable MSOs.

"In parallel we are increasing our engineering resources for the U.S., by creating a dedicated team of engineers in our Poland/Urkraine main R&D center," ADB said in an email to Light Reading Cable.

ADB's latest moves in the U.S. follow this year's launch of a company-wide reorganization aimed at reducing operating costs and creating "further unification" of the company's technology base. ADB CEO and Group Deputy CEO Francois Pagodalla left the company on March 14 as part of the reorg.

Last month, the Geneva-based company laid off the U.S. staff of Vidiom Systems Inc. , a group that's focused on pre-integrated, "turn-key" IPTV systems for Tier 2/3 operators. (See Vidiom Cuts US Staff and Vidiom Pitches Prepackaged Cable IPTV .)

The changes in Philly and the exit of Schermerhorn create questions about ADB's long-term U.S. cable ambitions. Although it has yet to announce a set-top deal with a major U.S. cable operator, it's been making some progress, as it's believed that Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) and Charter Communications Inc. are among the MSOs that have been looking at ADB's tru2way "set-back" boxes for use in hotels and other hospitality environments. (See Sony Drives ADB's Set-Back and CableLabs Specs Tru2way Set-Back Box.)

ADB declined to say how many people are affected by the latest restructuring, but claimed that the creation of the dedicated engineering team will result in a net increase in ADB resources focused on the U.S. cable business.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable