Watchfire, manufacturer of LED signs, digital billboards and video displays, announced the appointment of Doug Waldal as the new CEO.
Per the company, Waldal succeeds Steve Harriott, who is leaving the company to take a position of CEO at a private equity-backed, commercial HVAC and plumbing services business.
Doug Waldal Remarks on Watchfire CEO Appointment
“I am honored to join Watchfire as CEO at such an exciting time in the company’s growth,” says Waldal. “I am looking forward to working alongside the talented team at Watchfire. The company benefits from a strong leadership team and staff, and I’m committed to continuing the work Watchfire has done to deliver quality and service excellence to our customers.”
Waldal adds, “We will remain focused on maintaining our position as a widely recognized, tier-one leader in on premise, outdoor advertising, sports and indoor digital signage by focusing on innovation, quality and unparalleled customer service.”
Who is Doug Waldal?
Most recently, Waldal held the position of CEO at 80/20, a private equity-backed, leading provider of premium, configurable modular framing solutions for a range of end markets.
Prior to 80/20, he served as COO for Echo Engineering & Production Supplies from 2019 to 2021; president and CEO of Nortek’s GTO Access Systems, LLC subsidiary from 2015 to 2018; and vice president and general manager, Broadcast and AV Solutions for Belden Inc., for six years.
He also held commercial leadership roles of increasing responsibility for Newell Brands, Inc.
Per the statement, Waldal has an engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Marquette University.
Watchfire Looks to Next Chapter
According to Watchfire, Waldal has deep experience leading businesses that manufacture complex electronic, electromechanical and engineered-to-order products.
Additionally, he has a keen understanding of tech-enabled manufacturing and commercial models, which he will bring to Watchfire.
“Doug’s enthusiasm and experience growing organizations, implementing focused ‘go-to-market’ strategies, and driving execution will be instrumental in advancing Watchfire’s next chapter,” says Harriott. “Leading Watchfire has been the privilege of my career, and this team has built a company that sets the standard for our industry.”
Harriott continues, “The future for Watchfire is bright. The foundation is strong, the market opportunity is significant and this team is second to none.”
