UK based online DVD rentaloutfit Video Island has drafted in Simon Calver as its new CEO replacingcurrent CEO and co-founder, Saul Klein.

Calver has worked in seniormanagement positions at digital outfit Riverdeep, Dell, PepsiCola and Unilever.

He has been brought intoVideo Island by Klein to help lead the company to further growth this year.

Klein will work directlywith Calver and the company board on a transition, and remain with Video Islandin a non-executive role.
Video Island plans to launch in at least one other European country by the endof the year, to increase the number of DVDs that it sells to consumers throughits site and to begin delivering digital content such as trailers and shortfilms to cellphones and PCs.

Klein, who remains asignificant shareholder in Video Island, told ScreenDaily.com that theappointment was about finding someone with the right set of skills to helpscale the business up. "Simon's experience in direct selling, e-commerce,consumer marketing and high-volume operations will be invaluable in takingVideo Island to the next level."

Klein added that his "numberone priority was to support Simon and the board of Video Island going forward."

In his previous role, Calverwas worldwide COO and President at Riverdeep, an interactive digital educationand productivity software company. Before this, he was General Manager and VPof Dell's UK and Ireland Home and Small Business operations. Prior to thisCalver was International VP of Sales Operations for PepsiCola, based in the USfor three years.

Launched in September 2003,Video Island has 100,000 subscribers and ships almost 1.5 million DVDs permonth - equivalent to over 150 high street stores.

Video Island runs a whitelabel service for Tesco, ITV, MSN and easyGroup, as well as its own directconsumer brand, Screenselect.co.uk in partnership with the likes of Dixons,Boots, Virgin Megastore, Real Networks and the Radio Times.

The company has raised over£15m in funding from venture capital outfits including Benchmark Capital,Cazenove Private Equity, Index Ventures and EVP.