Pace Micro Technology has promoted Neil Gaydon to CEO. He most recently served as director of worldwide sales and marketing.

Gaydon, whose new post becomes official on April 14, will succeed John Dyson, who is retiring .

During his career at Pace, Gaydon led the company's entrée to the U.S. market from 1999 to 2003, when he served as president and general manager of Pace Americas. During that period, Pace notched set-top deals with MSOs such as Time Warner Cable and Comcast Cable.

Gaydon joined Pace in 1995. He was appointed to the company board in June 2002.

Pace Chairman Sir Michael Bett called Gaydon a "natural successor" to Dyson. Gaydon is "ideally placed to lead Pace into its next phase of growth as the company delivers on its U.S. contracts and continues to develop its business with pay TV operators worldwide."

In other moves, Pace also promoted David McKinney from director of engineering and operations to chief operating officer.

On the product front, Pace recently unveiled "Vegas," an all-digital SD-DVR set-top.