Time Warner Cable pays tribute as former boss passes away

US MSO Time Warner Cable has paid tribute to former CEO and cable industry pioneer Glenn Britt after he passed away yesterday, aged 65.

“Glenn Britt’s entrepreneurial spirit and visionary leadership inspired the cable industry and left a profound mark on Time Warner Cable,” the company said. “He was a central figure at the birth of many of the technological innovations we enjoy today – from video on demand to broadband internet – while winning the respect and admiration of his peers, colleagues and TWC employees.”

Britt was CEO of TWC until end-2013 when he retired. He took on the CEO role in 2006 and remained on the TWC board until his death. He is credited with driving the development of VOD at TWC and throughout the wider industry as well as the deployment of DVRs and high-speed internet.

Britt stewarded the company through its separation from the wider Time Warner group in 2009 having originally joined Time Warner’s Time Inc. several decades earlier, in 1972.

In December 2009, Mr. Britt was one of five corporate executives appointed by President Obama to a task force charged with strengthening America’s economic competitiveness through leadership in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

TWC is in the throes of being acquired by Comcast and latter’s CEO Brian Roberts said of Britt: “He was a key part of our industry’s growth and success and was a true leader in every respect. His focus on helping others was heartwarming, and his competitive spirit was inspiring.  He will be deeply missed.”