Fitbit Exec to Chair CEA’s New Health & Fitness Tech Division

Woody Scal, the chief revenue officer of personal-health technology maker Fitbit, is chairing the new Health and Fitness Technology Division of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

His board (listed below) is packed with high-level execs from AT&T, Google, Sony, LG and other big (and niche) names in a category that is projected to grow 142 percent over the next five years, according to research from CEA and Parks Associates.

That report found that 29 percent of mobile phone users with health problems would try an easy-to-use device to track their condition and progress toward their goals. Additionally, 27 percent of mobile phone users would like a personalized plan to help guide them through their journey to better health.

Additionally, the CEA notes in a report on wearable technology (statsbelow in the slideshow) that consumer interest in purchasing dedicated wearable fitness devices—specifically in the next 12 months—quadrupled in 2013, making it the largest year-over-year increase for any category of fitness device.

The new CEA division originated in 2010 as the Health and Fitness Technology Working Group, which has had a big hand in developing and growing the now monstrous International CES showfloor presence of digital health technology providers.

At the 2014 show, digital health technology had its largest dedicated footprint ever, increasing by 40 percent, as did the digital fitness presence, which increased by 30 percent.

Last year, the Health and Fitness Technology Working Group joined others in sponsoring an ongoing educational program series, the Mobile Medical Apps (MMA) Roadshow, to demystify the FDA requirements for new app developers and identify best practices among those already producing regulated apps.

The inaugural board of the new CEA Health and Technology Fitness Division is:

• Chairman: Woody Scal, chief revenue officer, Fitbit

• Tim Alessi, director, new product development, LG Electronics

• Kirk Dulaney, executive director, strategic business development, Sony Electronics

• Chris Eschbach, director of exercise science and clinical trials, Valencell

• Bettina Experton, M.D., M.P.H., CEO, Humetrix

• Christy Hedgpeth, senior director, connected fitness, Under Armour

• Nitesh Jain, corporate strategy and business development, Wearables and Fitness, Verizon

• Isaiah Kacyvenski, head of sports and fitness segment, MC10

• Craig Kaiser, director, business development, AT&T, Emerging Devices Organization, Healthcare

• James Mault, M.D., F.A.C.S., vice president and chief medical officer, Qualcomm Life

• Andrew Rosenthal, product manager, health platform, Jawbone

• Casey Ryan, senior director, emerging products, Samsung

• Johana Shelton, senior policy counsel, Google

• Jon Shimp, senior vice President, business development, Fitbug

• Jeff Sweeney, marketing manager, Linear LLC

• Robert Terkelsen, vendor business manager, Ingram Micro

• Krijn Van der Raadt, vice president, IT and software development, GreatCall

• Sonny Vu, CEO, Misfit Wearables

• Stanly Yang, CEO, Neurosky

Board meetings are open to all CEA members and the next meeting will be held May 20 at 2 p.m. EDT. To get involved or learn more about the division, please contact Kinsey Fabrizio.

http://www.cepro.com/article/fitbit_exec_to_chair_ceas_new_health_fitness_tech_division/K310