Geoffrey Frost

The late Geoffrey Frost was Chief Marketing Officer for Motorola, and widely considered a driving force behind the company's success in the early and mid '00s. He had championed both the Hello MOTO ad campaign and the popular RAZR phone.

Frost passed away November 17, 2005, at age 55, from what company officials described as "natural causes." It was later reported that he had suffered a heart attack in his sleep. Frost's widow, Lynne Frost, subsequently committed suicide.

Frost's story took on additional significance with the March 26, 2008, publication of an open letter to the current Motorola management, written by Frost adviser Numair Faraz. The letter, published on Engadget, accused former CEO Ed Zander of excess and negligence, while also suggesting that Frost had been "worked to death." Moreover, Faraz blames Motorola executives, past and present, for practices that squandered Frost's hard-work, leading to the company's decline and subsequent breakup. Fast Facts:

1. Motorola Chief Marketing Officer
2. Died at age 56
3. Motorola tenure, 1999-2005
4. Spearheaded Hello MOTO campaign
5. Previously worked for Nike
6. According to Faraz letter, "Many close to Geoffrey believed Ed Zander worked him to death."

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