Sun Microsystems, Inc. yesterday announced the promotion of three top executives and the establishment of an executive management committee.
In addition to CEO Scott McNealy, the other committee members appointed are Edward Zander, Michael Lehman and William Raduchel. The committee will be responsible for day-to-day company operations and long-range planning.
The announcement is not at all an indication that Sun may be spreading itself too thin with its involvement in various new marketing opportunities, according to Susanne Vagadori, a company spokesperson.
"With Sun approaching a $10 billion company, this is absolutely a natural thing to do," Vagadori said. With the enormous opportunities presenting themselves to the company, it is the right time to do it, she added.
McNealy will focus most of his attention on longer term strategies and forming business alliances, and hand over the day-to-day operations to the committee, according to Vagadori.
The announcement does not mean that McNealy was having difficulties managing the company's expanding operations and is not meant to reflect any doubt of his abilities, according to Vagadori.
"With the company moving forward, this was an appropriate and logical next step in management structure," she added.
Promoted to chief operating officer, Zander, formerly president of Sun Microsystems Computer Co., will manage Sun's operating companies - Sun Microsystems Computer Co., SunSoft, JavaSoft, SunService and Sun Microelectronics. He also will oversee Sun's research and development group, SunLabs and the office of the chief technology officer. He will oversee engineering, research and development, manufacturing operations, marketing, sales, service and support.
Previously chief financial officer, Lehman was promoted to vice president of corporate resources and chief financial officer with management responsibilities for the company's finance, legal, human resources, real estate and information resource issues.
Raduchel, formerly chief information officer, has been promoted to the newly created position of chief strategy officer and will continue to oversee all corporate development in addition to contributing to the company's long-term strategy and planning.
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