Qualcomm appoints Bill Stone to FLO TV helm

Qualcomm announced the appointment of wireless industry vet Bill Stone as senior vice president and president of its FLO TV mobile broadcast unit, replacing longtime MediaFLO USA head Gina Lombardi. Stone will join Qualcomm on Feb. 2 following a stint as CEO and president of smartphone content provider Handango--a veteran of GTE Wireless, AirTouch Cellular, Vodafone and Verizon, Stone also served as president of ill-fated MVNO Amp'd Mobile. According to Qualcomm, Stone will now be charged with building the FLO TV brand, expanding content and distribution, and increasing subscribers.

Qualcomm did not offer an explanation for Lombardi's exit from the position, although in a prepared statement announcing the Stone hire, Qualcomm executive vice president and COO Len Lauer said he "looks forward to [Lombardi's] continued contributions at Qualcomm." An 18-year Qualcomm veteran, Lombardi was named president of MediaFLO USA in early 2006--she succeeded Richard Sulpizio, who served as interim president since January 2005. "Gina has been instrumental in enhancing FLO TV's infrastructure and operations, establishing carrier relations, deploying the FLO TV commercial network and launching service with Verizon Wireless and AT&T," Lauer added.

Following Stone's resignation from his Handango post, the firm appointed vice president of content Alex Bloom to fill its CEO and president vacancy. Bloom joined Handango in mid-2008 after a stint as general manager of Motricity's smartphone business.

For more on Qualcomm's executive shuffling:
- read this release

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