Chief executive of Westwood-based Wi-Fi provider Boingo Wireless Inc. Dave Hagan announced Feb. 21 he will retire after 17 years with the company. Boingo board member Mike Finley was unanimously elected to fill the vacant CEO seat by the board.

Hagan, former chairman of Boingo’s board, will remain a member but pass on his chairman seat to board member Lance Rozenzweig.

All changes to executive personnel will take effect March 18, according to Boingo.

Boingo’s wireless focus is increasingly shifting towards 5G, the fifth generation of wireless communication technology that’s promised lower latency and the ability to connect more devices to a network, enabling “Internet of Things” technology.

Currently, most devices aren’t compatible with the new 5G network, as it is still being developed, with vague launch dates reported as mid-2019 into early 2020.

“After working with Mike for five years, the board and I are delighted that he will lead Boingo as we build wireless infrastructure in the 5G era,” Hagan said in a statement. “Mike’s deep industry knowledge and his carrier experience have been instrumental in helping Boingo navigate the wireless landscape over the last five years. His wireless background coupled with the institutional knowledge he’s gleaned as a member of the board make Mike uniquely qualified to lead Boingo successfully into the future.”

Finley’s experience prior to Boingo includes nine years at San Diego-based wireless technology developer Qualcomm Technologies Inc. running its North American and Australian divisions.

“With its portfolio of high-volume indoor venues, Boingo is exceptionally well positioned to take advantage of the need for greater densification and indoor coverage that 5G requires. I look forward to helping the Boingo team accelerate growth even further as 5G comes to market, and I thank Dave for his extraordinary leadership for the past 17 years.”

Tech reporter Samson Amore can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8335. Follow him on Twitter @samsonamore.