Motorola chairman cleans out desk
Motorola, Inc. announced that Christopher B. Galvin, chairman and chief executive officer, decided to retire.
Galvin has agreed to remain as chairman and CEO until his successor is named and will work with a search committee to find a replacement.
“While I have achieved substantial results, the Board of Directors and I do not share the same view of the company’s pace, strategy and progress at this stage of the turnaround,” Galvin said. “Accordingly, it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership. I leave my successor with a formidable Motorola platform compared to three years ago, before I implemented my five-point turnaround plan.”
Critics say there are no prosperous divisions and the promised turnaround at Motorola has been slow. Galvin’s replacement will face difficult decisions including what parts of the company to keep or sell, analysts say.
Galvin cited his accomplishments, including: a global reputation for the highest ethics; a business portfolio reconfigured by $19 billion in acquisitions and $7 billion in sales of Motorola businesses; a reconstituted Motorola brand in “MOTO”; unique innovations in corporate governance and transparency; a world-class leadership supply assessment and selection system; the reintroduction of Six SigmaT as a business system enhancing product quality; a new senior management team; and energized, motivated and dedicated employees.
Motorola President Michael Zafirovsky, told Reuters news service that he is interested in the job.
Cramer names new marketing chief
Cramer Systems announced the appointment of Razi Imam to the role of Vice President of Marketing for the Americas.
Imam joins Cramer from CoManage Corp., where as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, he was instrumental in building CoManage’s market profile in data integrity and OSS.
Imam brings more than 15 years of global marketing experience in telecom to his new role at Cramer. As Vice President of Marketing for the Americas, he will be responsible for the ongoing development, expansion, and execution of Cramer’s Americas marketing strategy, while also serving as a key contributor to corporate strategic initiatives.
Spotwave appoints sales director
Spotwave Wireless Inc. announced the appointment of Jamie Crawford as director, Canadian sales. Crawford brings over 20 years of high tech and telecommunications management experience to Spotwave Wireless. Crawford will have overall responsibility for driving sales in the Canadian market, and he will report directly to Dana Krug, the vice president of North American sales.
Prior to joining Spotwave, Crawford held the role of assistant vice president, partner sales with Orchestream, a telecommunications software company. Preceding his tenure at Orchestream, Crawford held numerous senior sales and marketing positions at such organizations as CrossKeys Systems Corp., Nortel Networks, and ADC Telecommunications.
Microsoft names communications chief
Microsoft Corp. announced the appointment of Maria Martinez to corporate vice president of the Communications and Mobile Solutions Unit of the Communications Sector at Microsoft. In her new role, Martinez is responsible for driving the development of the latest Microsoft products and services tailored for wireline and wireless carriers, cable operators, hosters, and media and entertainment companies worldwide. In addition, she leads the organization responsible for the Microsoft MapPoint business unit and the development of location-based services.
The Communications Sector is part of the Mobile and Embedded Devices Business, one of Microsoft’s seven business units, which also encompasses the Mobile Devices Division, the Embedded Devices Group and the Automotive Business Unit. Pieter Knook leads the combined organization.
Martinez’s key priority in her new role at Microsoft is to accelerate the growth of Microsoft’s worldwide business in the Communications Sector (encompassing the Network Service Providers group as well as media and entertainment companies). Toward this aim, Martinez brings more than 20 years of experience in telecommunications and software, managing businesses that transformed emerging technologies into market-leading commercial products.
Huang joins Andrew Corp.
J.C. Huang, Ph.D. has joined Andrew Corp. in the new role of Chief Technology and Strategy Officer. In this position, Huang will provide overall technology leadership for the company and oversee the development of corporate strategy.
Huang has more than 20 years of experience in the wireless industry, having worked as technologist, management consultant, and venture capitalist. Most recently, he was a managing director and general partner of Ericsson Venture Partners. Prior to that, he was director of wireless ventures at Lucent’s New Ventures Group. In these positions, he helped create several wireless industry start-up companies. From 1996-98, he was a management consultant with McKinsey providing advisory services to wireless companies.
Before these business roles, Huang worked as a physicist and electrical engineer, researching next-generation electronic and optical components, designing digital and analog integrated circuits, and building modules and subsystems for wireless data networks. As a principal scientist at Raytheon’s Research Division, where he worked from 1987-94, he managed several wireless technology programs and led research in radio frequency and microwave solid-state electronic devices. In his early career, he held engineering roles at Westinghouse and Alpha Industries.
Huang holds a B.A. in Physics from Swarthmore College, a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Cornell University, and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School.
Cognigen CEO resigns post
Cognigen Networks Inc. announced the resignation of Darrell H. Hughes as president and CEO. Hughes’ resignation will take effect Sept. 30.
The company also announced the appointment of Tony Sgroi as chief operating officer, effective on this date, and has commenced a search for a new president and CEO.
Hughes will continue to serve as a member of Cognigen’s board of directors.
Before joining Cognigen, he was general manager for GTE (now Verizon) in Washington, Idaho and Oregon, and served as vice president of sales and service with AAA of Washington.
He also has served as an adjunct professor of management at Northwest College, and facilitated graduate level technology courses at Golden Gate University.
Tyco names new vice president
Tyco International Ltd. announced the appointment of Robert W. Frantz as Vice President — environment, health and safety, a new position. Frantz will report to William B. Lytton, Executive Vice President and General Counsel. He joins Tyco from GE Engine Services, where he served as General Manager and Counsel, Environment, Health & Safety.
Frantz will be responsible for the development of strategies, policies and programs that will unify the standards and enhance performance in environment, health and safety areas across Tyco’s business units.
Frantz has held a number of positions with increasing responsibility during his 18 years at GE. Most recently he was responsible for worldwide environment, health and safety performance and programs at 45 global sites while serving as General Manager and Counsel, Environment, Health and Safety at GE Engine Services. Prior to joining GE Engine Services, Frantz spent nine years at GE Corporate Environmental Programs, where he ultimately served as Manager and Senior Counsel, EH&S Operations. He was also Counsel — environmental and regulatory matters at GE Plastics. Before joining GE, Frantz was an Assistant General Counsel at the Chemical Manufacturers Association, an associate at Hamel, Park, McCabe and Saunders law firm in Washington, D.C., and a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division.
FCC names new committee members
The Federal Communications Commission announced the following individuals have agreed to serve as members of the Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age:
- Decker Anstrom, president-COO — Landmark Communications
- Andrew Barrett, managing director — Barrett Group Inc.
- Mathew Blank, chairman-CEO — Showtime Networks
- Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, president — Women in Cable and Telecommunications
- Joan Gerberding, president — Nassau Radio Network; and National President — Women in Radio and Television
- Steve Hilliard, president-CEO — Council Tree Communications
- Priscilla Hill-Ardoin, senior vice-president, regulatory compliance — SBC
- David Honig, executive director — Minority Media and Telecommunications Council
- Jamie Howard, CFO — BigBand Networks Inc.
- Julia Johnson, president — NetCommunications, Chair Emerging Issues Policy Forum
- Ginger Lew, CEO — Telecommunications Development Fund
- Vonya McCann, senior vice president, federal external affairs — Sprint Corp.
- Francisco R. Montero — Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth
- Terdema Ussery, president-CEO — Dallas Mavericks; and CEO — HDNet
- Alex Wallau, president — ABC Television Network
- Jenny Alonzo, president — National Association for Multiethnicity In Communications; and vice president, production & inventory operations — Lifetime Television
- Riley Temple, partner — Halprin, Temple, Goodman
- Henry Rivera, partner — Vinson & Elkins
- Roscoe Young II, CEO — KMC Telecom
