Steve Rizzone CEO, Active Storage

Active Storage, Inc. named Steve Rizzone as chief executive officer and Alex Grossman as company president.

 Rizzone, with a 35-year background growing technology-related businesses, and chief executive, marketing, sales and entrepreneurial experience, succeeds Alex Grossman, Active’s founding chief executive officer. The move allows Grossman to now focus full time on product innovation, vision and leadership for Active’s ambitious plans to develop solutions to meet the challenges of media and creative customers.

"Steve is exactly the right leader for Active Storage going forward", said Grossman. "His strong background in all aspects of corporate growth including strategic vision, product development, product launch, manufacturing, sales and distribution, make him the ideal person to drive Active into the future."

A successful company and brand builder, Rizzone served as chief executive, chairman of the board, or lead consultant in eight corporate liquidity transactions over the past 15 years, with a total combined shareholder value in excess of $4.7 Billion.

He was formerly Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Communicado after holding the position of President and CEO for IP3 Networks, an early-stage Network Access Appliance company focused on the Fortune 2000 market place that was successfully merged with a larger market peer.

In his previous roles, one of Rizzone’s most notable accomplishments includes his work with Ortel Corporation where he served as Chairman of the Board, President and CEO. While at the company, Rizzone implemented an aggressive plan to turn around Ortel Corporation and refocus its strategic market objectives, resulting in a sale of the company to Lucent Technologies for more than $3 billion. he served as Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO for NetVantage, Inc., where he accelerated the company’s revenue growth from $150,000 to $26 million in the course of only one year. NetVantage was purchased by Cabletron Networks for $126 million.

He has over 36 years of leadership experience in data and voice communications hardware, networking hardware and software, silicon and optical components.

A graduate of California State University at Fullerton, Rizzone received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Public Administration.

"I am excited to join Active Storage as CEO," said Steve Rizzone. "I plan on continuing to grow the company’s leadership role in delivering the highest quality broadcast and post-production storage solutions."

Rizzone continued: "It is rare to find a company with the knowledge and understanding of user needs with such a strong dedication to customer support. Working with a recognized industry thought-leader like Alex was too good an opportunity to pass up."