DISH Network announced Monday that Joseph Clayton has been named the company's president and chief executive officer and has been appointed to the board of directors.
He will replace Charles Ergen, who will remain as chairman of the satellite company.
"I am very excited to take on this new challenge," Clayton. "My working relationship with Charlie spans nearly 20 years, and I look forward to building on DISH Network's legacy of innovation and value in TV entertainment."
Clayton who previously previously served as chairman of Sirius Satellite Radio and chief executive officer the company will take on his new position on June 20.
DISH has been laying the groundwork for what could be an ambitious VOD plan in recent months, with the company's $320 million purchase of Blockbuster in late April. (The company tapped Michael Kelly as president of Blockbuster, which is preparing to come out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.)
Clayton is also coming on board during a legally contentious time for the company; in early May, both Starz and Disney filed separate lawsuits against DISH over the satellite provider's decision to offer its subscribers free Starz for a year.
Prior to joining Sirius, Clayton served as president of Global Crossing North America, as president and chief executive officer of Frontier Corporation and as executive vice president of Marketing and Sales for the Americas and Asia of Thomson S.A.