RALEIGH – PrecisionHawk, a developer of drone technology and provider of related services, has a new chief executive officer.

Veteran executive James Norrod takes over as the top exec at the venture capital backed, emerging entreprenurial company that launched in 2010.

Norrod replaces Michael Chasen.

Chasen will now lead the advisory board for PrecisionHawk. He also is chair of the FAA Drone Advisory Committee.

PrecisionHawk announced the change early Thursday.

“We welcome Jim Norrod as he brings his decades of experience to foster deeper partnerships between PrecisionHawk and its customers and deliver widespread drone technology adoption to the broader markets PrecisionHawk serves,” said Sam Schwerin, the Managing Partner of Millennium Technology Value Partners which is an investor in the company. He’s also a member of the PrecisionHawk Board.

“Ever since leading PrecisionHawk’s Series B financing in 2014, we have shared the company’s vision of delivering unprecedented insight through aerial data intelligence to businesses and markets of all kinds,” he added.

Norrod, a former IBMer, has worked for a number of different companies over the past 25 years. Previous roles include:

  • CEO of Tellabs
  • CEO of Zhone Technologies
  • CEO of Segway
  • CEO of Telebit
  • CEO of Adage
  • CEO of Infinite Power Solutions

“PrecisionHawk is grateful for Michael Chasen’s leadership in advancing the commercial drone economy and taking on a pivotal role with policymakers in Washington as the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee Chairman,” Norrod said in the statement.

“Michael grew the company significantly and helped pioneer best practices in drone-based geospatial data analytics across multiple industries. I am looking forward to continuing to build on his foundational work by delivering additional cost and time efficiencies, usability, and operational excellence to our customers. I am eager to partner with him as we continue to build trust between the American public and the commercial drone ecosystem, so that we unlock the full potential of this unique technology.”