Cable industry pioneer Steve Simmons was elected to Cablevision’s board of directors effective immediately.
Simmons joined the board as an independent director and his election increased Cablevision’s board to 18 members.
Simmons, 68, has been chairman and chief executive officer of Simmons Patriot Media & Communications, a management firm specializing in media and communications, since 2002.
He serves as chairman of RCN Telecom Services after it was taken private four years ago by investment fund Abry Partners. Simmons is also chairman for Grande Communications, and PPR Media, LLC/Choice Communications. He served as a director for Virgin Media Inc. from 2008 to 2013. Simmons also served as the Chairman of the Connecticut Commission of Educational Achievement and now Chairs the Connecticut Counsel for Education Reform.
Simmons formed his first cable company, Simmons Communications, in 1982 and sold it 10 years later. Simmons formed Patriot Media in 2002, and was chairman and CEO of the company that served Princeton and 30 surrounding towns in New Jersey. He sold Patriot to Comcast in 2007.
Simmons was previously elected to the National Cable Television Association’s board of directors. In 1989 he co-founded and chairs the Entrepreneurs Club, a group of 27 former and present chairmen and CEOs of multiple system cable operators. In 1999, he was elected to the Cable TV Pioneers.
