“There’s a new sheriff at Inovonics, though the old one promises he isn’t going away.”
I wrote that sentence in 2012 when I reported that COO Ben Barber had been elevated to president/CEO and that its founder Jim Wood, while still involved as chairman, would be easing back on his duties.
That article now has a sequel.
Inovonics announced in August that Wood has formally retired and that Barber is now the owner.
“Ben has evolved into a much better manager and planner than I ever was,” Wood said in the announcement, “and under Ben’s guidance the company has dramatically increased its presence, market share and prestige within our industry.”
Barber said he expects to run the company with little change. “We have a good name, and it is my goal to continue to carry on [Jim’s] legacy,” he said.
It couldn’t happen to nicer folks.
Jim Wood, now 80 and having devoted 50 years to the company, is widely respected for his technical and business accomplishments as well as his quiet integrity.
He has also been a longtime supporter of what we do at Radio World.
Walking in his footsteps, Barber has been a good friend to broadcasters and a faithful guardian of the Inovonics approach to doing business that Wood established. He said the company plans to continue to “build great gear, sell it worldwide, and provide a stable and sustainable work environment.”
Ben and Jim are shown below at this year’s NAB Show. For more on this story, check out the excellent story that our contributor Tom Vernon wrote about Jim’s career in 2018, “Jim Wood Focuses on the Basics.”
Congrats to everyone on the Inovonics team.
