Banjo, a Park City-based technology company that develops and markets software services that help first responders receive information they need to deploy public safety resources as quickly as possible, has announced that Justin R. Lindsey has been named the company’s new CEO.
Lindsey, Banjo’s current chief technology officer, replaces founder Damien Patton, who resigned following revelation of his past involvement with white supremacist organizations, including hate-motivated criminal activity as a youth.
A $21 million contract that Banjo has with several Utah state agencies to aid first responders and law enforcement investigators in detecting incidents and crimes has been put on hold pending an audit by the attorney general’s office that will include evaluations of personal privacy protections stipulated in the state’s contract with Banjo and any evidence of racial or religious bias in work already performed by the company. Banjo has announced it stopped processing information related to its Utah clients pending the audit’s outcome.
The University of Utah has also announced it had terminated its contract with Banjo.
Lindsey has been with the company for nine months and will be assuming his new responsibilities immediately, a release from the company said. Lindsey has had management positions in the technology sector for more than 25 years, including a stint as chief technology officer for the FBI in Washington, D.C. He founded Internet systems engineering firm Lavastorm Inc. in the Boston area after receiving an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Nine months ago, I was inspired by Banjo’s mission to join the company full time as the CTO,” Lindsey said in a statement. “As CEO, I’m looking forward to continuing Banjo’s dedication to technology solutions that protect privacy.”