Cox Communications has named former Time Warner Cable executive Asheesh Saksena executive vice president and chief strategy officer, filling a slot that has been vacant for the past few months.
In his new role Saksena will report directly to Cox CEO Pat Esser and will oversee existing strategy and new business development organizations and be responsible for strategic business planning, competitive assessments, marketplace evaluations and new growth opportunities. Saksena also will work closely with executive at Cox Communications' parent company, Cox Enterprises.
Saksena fills a position that went vacant in January when former chef strategy officer Dallas Clement became chief financial officer of AutoTrader.com, a unit of parent Cox Enterprises.
Saksena most recently served as deputy chief strategy officer and senior vice president, corporate strategy at Time Warner Cable. In that role, he led strategy formulation, including growth and operational transformation, new business incubation, merger and acquisitions opportunity management and strategic partnerships and venturing.
"Cox and the entire cable industry is at a key inflection point as technology, content and customer requirements rapidly shift," Esser said Cox in a statement. "Asheesh has a deep familiarity with the broader communications market and will help drive the necessary strategic shifts that will make us competitive for years to come."
Prior to joining Time Warner Cable, Saksena was senior executive and partner, communications and high technology strategy at Accenture.
