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Tom Dickson has stepped down as chairman and CEO of Blendtec, an Orem-based manufacturer of commercial and home blenders, to focus more on the creation of his products, the company announced Thursday.
Dickson, an engineer by trade, will remain on the private company's board of directors, as well as be its lead engineer, according to public relations director Tim Provost, who also is Dickson's son-in-law.
Reed Beus, a private equity executive, has taken over as chairman and CEO.
Dickson, who founded Blendtec in 1988 and became known for the wildly successful "Will It Blend?" series on YouTube, "knows the direction and vision of where we need to go in the company," Provost said. "He feels that it's best suited for someone with more experience."
Dickson was unavailable for comment Thursday.
The company employs 300 people and is planning on global expansion. "Anywhere he goes, he [Dickson] will be an integral part of our worldwide expansion," Provost said.
Blendtec and Dickson, 66, will continue to make the popular YouTube videos in which Dickson crushes a variety of objects into dust with his blender — such as a new iPad or iPhone — to demonstrate the power of his product.
Before joining Blendtec, Beus was chairman of CEO of Enspark, an e-learning company. In a statement, Beus said he will focus on accelerating Blendtec's growth through strategic product development.
"Blendtec is an incredibly successful company, with industry-leading technology and dedicated, passionate people," Beus said. "We're well-positioned for explosive growth over the next few years."
Blendtec, at a glance
Manufacturer of commercial and home blenders, founded in 1988
Based in Orem
Workforce of 300