New CEO and President of FamilySearch

Both by blog and email, I received an announcement today that the present CEO and President of FamilySearch International is stepping down effective October 1, 2015. His replacement has been named. Here is the announcement from Paul Nauta of FamilySearch:

The FamilySearch International board of directors has elected Stephen T. Rockwood as the company's president and chief executive officer, succeeding Dennis Brimhall, who will retire. Rockwood, who most recently served as director of the international division at FamilySearch, becomes president and CEO on October 1. 

"Steve is an extremely capable, experienced, and respected leader with an immense passion for our mission and our people," said Elder Allan F. Packer, Chairman of the Board. "As president and CEO, Steve will bring a rich combination of management skills, customer focus, business acumen, and a can-do spirit that will build on the vision and work of Dennis Brimhall." 

After leading FamilySearch through many innovative changes including focusing the organization on developing a compelling customer experience that greatly simplified finding genealogical connections, and encouraged young people to begin a life-long love of family history, Dennis Brimhall will retire. 

"I join the board in my deep appreciation for Dennis' leadership, customer focus, and vision for what FamilySearch is and can become," said Rockwood, "We look forward to building on the vital groundwork he has laid with continued innovation." 

Prior to joining FamilySearch, Rockwood specialized in creating unique service offerings for worldwide customers of such brands as MasterCard International, AT&T, Disney, Office Depot, and Citibank among others. He was also a successful entrepreneur building two companies from the ground up that were later acquired by larger companies. 

"With his international experience, deep appreciation of our accomplishments, and the energy and skill to drive additional transformation, Steve is well suited to lead our very talented FamilySearch organization and will facilitate further expansion to audiences worldwide," commented Brimhall.