"Departing Logitech"

After 11 years I announced today my departure from Logitech.  

Over the past ten years the team at Logitech has accomplished a lot.

• Grew the market value ten fold
• Built a video conferencing business from scratch to industry leadership
• Expanded our tiny gaming business from $40 Million to industry leadership well over $1 B
• Transformed a tired, declining desktop business to over $2 Billion and a strong growth machine  
• Gained market share in almost all our categories all along the way

And we built capabilities together.

• Became a design company.  We won more design awards per revenue dollar than any other company, I think, almost 200 last year alone, and our design team under our amazing design leader will receive the Design company of the year award in a ceremony occurring soon
• Established ourselves as a global leader in sustainability.  Carbon neutral, the leader in carbon labeling, the leader in tech in recycled plastic usage, and so much more.  We were named #1 the past two years by Financial Times of all companies, not just tech, in Europe (and, since Europe generally leads in sustainability, that probably means the world)
• Named to the prestigious SMI (index of top companies on the swiss stock exchange) and have the only female Chair, Wendy Becker, our current Chair, on the SMI.

My very capable head of People and Culture made me realize that if I were to "by name" thank all the internal people that I'd like to at Logitech, this article would be hopelessly long and form a recruiter list for other companies.  And since I love Logitech and want it to be super successful, that’s not such a good idea.

While I am very excited about what this team of current and past employees and board members has accomplished, I’m even more excited about Logitech’s future.  It’s going to be an amazing adventure at Logitech in the years ahead, and I will be a customer, investor, and raving fan.    

I would like to now thank so many.  

First, I want to thank my family.  I am so lucky, their mom Maria and I are so lucky, to have three wonderful children, Anderson, Blair, and Conner. They are simply a dream.  Their kindness, humility, and loving personalities are more than any parent could ask for.  I am so proud to be their father.  And the way they care for each other is a gift that each of them will always have as I do with my siblings.

And speaking of siblings, I’m so fortunate to have grown up with such awesome ones, Bobby, Bart, and Shelley.  Each makes the world better around them, through their love,  care for their families, and their actions.  Mom would be proud of you and excited that we are all so close.

And I so appreciate the countless friends I’ve made inside logitech, outside the company, and even out on the basketball court.  If you’re wondering if I’m referring to you within one of these groups … I am.

You make life so growth oriented, rewarding, and fun.  And I’m always here to help any way I can to fulfill your dreams (unless you play basketball with me and dream of being the leading scorer and I am guarding you).

And I'm really thankful for all of you who follow me here on LinkedIn, the only social media platform I use. You help me think, inspire me at times, and give me confidence that sometimes the things I'm thinking about are worth sharing.

In the spirit of friendship, I wish my good friend, fellow basketball-playing zealot, and successor (interim) Guy Gecht great luck and joy in the period ahead as he takes over Logitech.  His humility and capability are a perfect fit for the amazing company and team he will lead.  

I’ll soon be off on new adventures … but tonight I’m going to play basketball.