Todd Richard Pedersen (born November 23, 1968) is an American entrepreneur and the founder of Vivint, Inc., a home automation, security and energy company. Vivint, Inc. was acquired in late 2012 by the Blackstone Group."Blackstone Announces Closing of Vivint Transaction ." Press release, Blackstone, November 19, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

Biography Todd Pedersen was born in Seattle, Washington, the fourth of eleven children, and grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he attended Idaho Falls High School."'Undercover Boss' schooled in Idaho Falls ." NPG of Idaho, updated August 25, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

After finishing a 2-year mission for his church, he returned and settled in Provo, Utah. In 1992 he began selling pest-control services door-to-door from a small business with 10 employees based in a trailer in Arizona.

A few years later, he switched to a different product, burglar alarms, though using the same marketing technique. He contacted high-school friend Keith Nellesen to assist in this venture. Together, they founded APX Alarm Security Solutions in 1999 in Provo, Utah, utilizing his door-to-door marketing strategy. In 2011 APX Alarm was rebranded as Vivint to reflect its emphasis on living intelligently through home automation.Harvey, Tom. "Utah-based Vivint wants your house to 'intelligently respond, react and communicate' The Salt Lake City Tribune, 26 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2018. The company became a major competitor in the industry, as well as expanding its marketing through more traditional venues such as television advertising and telephone sales representatives.

Pedersen was featured in the sixth-season finale of the CBS reality show, Undercover Boss in 2015."The Boss of Vivint Goes Undercover ." CBS.com, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2018. The experience afforded him valuable insights into his employees' work days.Pederson, Todd. "How Going 'Undercover' Made Me a Better Boss ." Entrepreneur, February 20, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

In 2021 Pedersen stepped down as Vivint's CEO.

Innovations Pedersen created a workforce of approximately 13,500 full-time and part-time employees through innovations in employee relations. These innovations include an on-site restaurant at his corporate headquarters in Provo,"The Cafeteria Co. Partners With Vivint! " Heirloom Restaurant Group, October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2018. a free medical clinic, and various recreational areas including a basketball court and a weight room.

Under his direction, the firm branched into Vivint Solar, a solar-energy company.Bessette, Chanelle. "10 Questions: Todd Pedersen, CEO, Vivint ." Fortune, February 6, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

Outside of his industry, Pedersen has sought innovation in public education, particularly emphasizing use of the abacus in the classroom at early ages to strengthen mathematical skills. He also partners the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Vivint Gives Back with organizations such as Feed My Starving Children.

Pedersen was named Entrepreneur of the Year by three separate entities, first in 2010 by Ernst & Young,SIW Editorial staff. "APX Alarm's Todd Pedersen wins Ernst & Young award ." next by the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum in 2012,Pugmire, Genelle. "Vivint founder Todd Pedersen named Entrepreneur of the Year ." Daily Herald, December 14, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2018. and in 2013 by MountainWest Capital Network."Past Entrepreneur of the Year Winners ." MountainWest Capital Network, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

In 2015 Pedersen was inducted into the David Eccles School of Business Hall of Fame."Vivint CEO Todd Pedersen inducted into David Eccles School of Business Hall of Fame ." David Eccles School of Business, March 9, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

Philanthropy

In 2019, Pedersen and his wife were the largest donors to Intermountain Health's new hospital annex, which is known as the Pedersen Tower. In 2022, they donated $35,000,000 to Primary Children's Hospital to improve healthcare to kids.

Personal life As of 2013 Pedersen lives with his wife and their five children in the Provo, Utah area, and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.McKenzie, Hamish. "The Book of Mormon: Why the world's most capitalist religion breeds so many entrepreneurs," Pando, July 31, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

In 2016 Pedersen was involved in a fatal accident during the SCORE Baja 500 off-road race.Green, Mark and Kiersten Nuñez. "Vivint CEO Todd Pedersen involved in crash that killed young spectator at SCORE Baja 500 Pederson lost control of his vehicle while navigating a turn and slid down a hill before colliding with spectators. One person died and two others were injured. He was briefly detained by Mexican authorities, but later released. Mexican officials said investigation was ongoing, but the event appeared to be an accident rather than a criminal act. Observers reported poor crowd control at the event, and also said spectators were not normally allowed at the site of the accident.

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