David Margolese (born October 24, 1957) is a Canadian-born Israeli businessman best known as the co-founder and former CEO of SiriusXM,Andrea Adelson, "Satellite Radio's Bet on Dissatisfied Listeners," The New York Times, July 30, 2001.Michael Wolff, "Cruise Control," New York, September 25, 2000, pp. 30-32. the world's largest radio company. Considered "one of the earliest advocates of pay radio,"Paul Farhi, "Music From the Spheres," The Washington Post, May 19, 1997. he "effectively created the industry."Simon Houpt, "Radio Flyer," Report On Business Magazine, September 2001, pp. 14-16.

Early life Margolese was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. He attended the University of British Columbia, dropping out after one year.

Cellular

Rogers Wireless Margolese is also the co-founder of Rogers Wireless, Canada's largest wireless company.Ian Hardy, "Rogers Q2 2012: Wireless subscriber base reaches 9.351 million, revenue increases 1%," Mobile Syrup, July 24, 2012.Hugh Thompson, "Rogers reports year end results," Digital Home, February 18, 2011. In 1978, at the age of 20, Margolese founded Canadian Telecom, a radio paging company,Bethany McLean, "Satellite Killed The Radio Star," Fortune, January 22, 2001, pp. 94-100.Caroline Van Hasselt, High Wire Act: Ted Rogers and the Empire That Debt Built, Mississauga, Ontario: John Wiley & Sons, 2008, Chapters 12 and 14.Katy Bachman, "Space Invaders: The Next Wave," Mediaweek, April 12, 1999. which in 1980 partnered with Rogers Communications to create Rogers Wireless.

Satellite radio

Sirius XM In 1990, Margolese acquired control of CD Radio, a newly formed venture proposing a satellite radio service,Peter Passell, "Coast-to-Coast Radio Without Squawk or Fade," The New York Times, November 27, 1994."Business Unusual" (transcript), CNN, August 6, 2000. becoming its chairman and CEO in 1993.

Margolese built the company with $1.8 billion he raised.Chris Jordan, "For More And More Music Fans, Satellite Radio Is Heaven Sent," MTV.com, February 5, 2002. He obtained the government license to operate the service, renamed the company Sirius Satellite Radio, developed and launched its satellites, developed its receivers, struck installation deals with automakers, and struck content deals with media companies.Steve Warren, Radio: The Book, 4th Edition, Burlington, MA: Focal Press, 2005, p. 166.Charles Graeber, "Radio Star Rising," Wired, February 2001.Nancy Dillon, "Beaming Radio Into High-Tech Fast Lane," New York Daily News, June 5, 2000.Tim Moran, "The Space Race for Satellite Radio Is Picking Up Speed," The New York Times, September 22, 2000. Margolese designed the company's studios and headquarters, and built them in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.

In 2001, Margolese stepped down as CEO, remaining chairman for two more years, with Sirius issuing a statement thanking him "for his great vision, leadership and dedication in creating both Sirius and the satellite radio industry.""David Margolese Steps Down as Sirius CEO," PRNewswire, October 16, 2001.David Hinckley, "Satellite Entry Grabs Early Lead," New York Daily News, October 20, 2001.Kenneth Hein, "Scott Greenstein, Sirius Satellite Radio," Adweek, October 10, 2005.

Sirius acquired XM in 2008, becoming SiriusXM,Eliot Van Buskirk, "Sirius, XM Complete Merger," Wired, July 29, 2008. the world's largest radio company.

Honors Margolese was nominated by Harvard Business School as Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999. CosmoCom press release, February 22, 1999. He was inducted into NASA's Space Technology Hall of Fame in 2002.

Personal life In 2002, Margolese moved to Israel, where he lives with his wife Michal and their six children.

References