Bigfoot Networks names tech marketing veteran Michael Howse as chief executive

Hoping to steer its way into the hearts of gamers, Bigfoot Networks named a seasoned marketing executive Michael Howse as its president and chief executive.

Bigfoot makes a line of network interface cards for game computers. The cards are designed to eliminate lag so that gamers never have to worry that their machines will freeze up just as they’re about to deliver a death blow to a fellow online gamer.

Howse said the company has to expand its range of products for gamers and widen the distribution of its products to cover more territories.

With Howse on board, Bigfoot will move its headquarters to San Jose, Calif., but it will keep its tech development in Austin, Texas. Howse will work closely with founder Harlan Beverly who will become chief technology officer and vice president of engineering. Howse said the company is working on a series of new products. Its Killer NIC line of networking products is available as an option with Dell, Alienware, Falcon Northwest and Commodore gamer PCs. The company uses a custom Freescale Semiconductor chip at the heart of its Killer NIC products, and it competes with low-end networking solutions from companies such as Marvell.

Howse has more than 20 years of experience in consumer technology businesses. He got involved in gaming circles as an executive at graphics firms Creative Labs, S3, and 3dfx Interactive. Most recently, he was the top executive at wireless mesh-networking firm PacketHop. Bigfoot has raised $13 million and has 28 employees. Backers include Northbridge Venture Partners, Venio Capital Partners, and Palomar Ventures, which invested $8.75 million in a round last August. The company is not currently seeking funding, Howse said.