RealNetworks Names Edmund Belsheim Senior Vice President of Corporate Development

SEATTLE, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK) today announced that it has appointed Edmund O. Belsheim, Jr. as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development.  Belsheim, an experienced business executive and corporate attorney, will work with the rest of Real's senior team to revitalize RealNetworks and set the company up for renewed growth and success. He will report to Interim CEO Rob Glaser, and started at Real yesterday.

Belsheim joins RealNetworks after four years in the Seattle office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. From 2000-2007 Belsheim served in a variety of senior roles at InfoSpace, including President and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer.

"Ed is a great combination of a seasoned business executive and a change agent," said Rob Glaser, RealNetworks Chairman and Interim CEO.  "In particular, Ed's leadership role at InfoSpace demonstrates his ability to help a company successfully implement a transition to growth and profitability."

"I'm excited to join RealNetworks," said Ed Belsheim.  "We have great people, exciting assets, and a strong balance sheet.  I look forward to taking my skills and experience to help us achieve our potential and increase shareholder value."

Earlier in his career, Belsheim was a partner at Perkins Coie and Bogle & Gates, where he was chairman of the business department and a member of the executive committee.  He also served as senior vice president or vice president and general counsel at Penwest Pharmaceuticals and Penford.  He began his career as an associate at Dewey Ballantine in New York.

He holds a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law, where he was editor-in-chief of the Oregon Law Review.  Admitted to the bar in both Washington and New York, he earned an M.A. at the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Carleton College.

About RealNetworks

RealNetworks creates innovative applications and services that make it easy for people to connect with and enjoy digital media. RealNetworks invented the streaming media category and continues to connect consumers with their digital media both directly and through partners, aiming to support every network, device, media type and social network. Find RealNetworks corporate information at www.realnetworks.com

SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.