Motorola Inc. named Michel Mayer chairman and CEO of Freescale Semiconductor, a subsidiary expected to become a separate, publicly traded company later this year. Mayer’s appointment is effective immediately.
Mayer spent almost 20 years at IBM Corp., most recently as general manager of IBM Microelectronics, which develops and markets customized semiconductor products and services.
“After an extensive, global search, we believe that Michel Mayer has a unique combination of operational experience, leadership skills, customer focus and technical expertise to make him the ideal choice to lead Freescale Semiconductor as an independent entity,” says Ed Zander, chairman and CEO of Motorola.
As leader of IBM Microelectronics, Mayer served on IBM’s Worldwide Management Council. His responsibilities included providing semiconductors to IBM product divisions as well as to external businesses, and he changed the division’s strategic direction to drive more profitable growth. He also served as general manager of IBM’s pervasive computing division and networking hardware division and held a number of engineering and product management roles for IBM in the United States and France.
“I am honored to be named Freescale’s chairman and chief executive officer,” says Mayer. “I look forward to building upon Freescale’s over 50 years of innovation to seize upon the many opportunities available today and unleash the potential of this company. With an experienced management team, talented employees and technological leadership, Freescale is well-positioned to continue to deliver great products for our customers. I am committed to enhancing value for our shareholders and customers and creating a positive work environment for our employees.”
HUB INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Joseph P. Flanagan, president and CEO of Mack and Parker Inc., resigned from the company. Mack and Parker is Hub International Ltd.’s Chicago-based regional hub.
Flanagan was named president of Mack and Parker in 2001, after merging his own insurance brokerage, J.P. Flanagan Corp., into the larger firm. He was also a member of Hub’s executive management committee.
Also, shareholders elected two new independent directors to the company’s board, Stuart Ross, trustee, from Hansberger International Institutional Series, and Edward W. Lyman Jr., vice chair of the board, Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago.
RR DONNELLEY & SONS CO.
R. Donnelley & Sons Co. named Daniel N. Leib vice president, investor relations. He replaces Julie Gottlieb, who is leaving RR Donnelley to pursue other opportunities.
Leib has overall responsibility for development and execution of the company’s investor relations strategy and program. He joins RR Donnelley from The Interpublic Group of Cos., where, most recently, he served as vice president of business planning and analysis with responsibility for investor relations. Previously, he served in financial roles of increasing responsibility at Interpublic and its predecessor companies, as well as at Sears, Roebuck and Co. and The Dun & Bradstreet Corp.
3 VODKA DISTILLING CO.
Chicago-based 3 Vodka Distilling Co., which produces the only vodka in the world distilled from soy and the first spirit to receive government approval to state zero carbohydrates, has announced So So Def Recordings CEO and Grammy-nominated producer Jermaine “JD” Dupri as a partner and owner of 3 Vodka Distilling Co.
MOBILE SATELLITE VENTURES
Mobile Satellite Ventures appointed Alexander H. Good vice chairman and CEO. Gary Parsons, formerly MSV’s chairman and CEO, will continue as chairman.
Formerly, Good was executive vice president of Bell Atlantic Corp (now Verizon), served as CEO and president of Bell Atlantic International and as chairman and CEO of the board for Mtel International.
He also served in international commerce under the Reagan administration. In 1985, he was appointed assistant secretary of commerce and director general of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service.
KRAFT FOODS INC.
Kraft Foods Inc. hired Linda Hefner executive vice president, global strategy and business development. Hefner is responsible for corporate strategy and merger and acquisition activities for Kraft around the world. She replaces David Owens, who is resigned in May.
Hefner brings to Kraft extensive experience in the consumer products industry, primarily at Sara Lee Corp., where she has held a number of strategy and marketing positions since 1989. Most recently, she served as CEO of Sara Lee’s Underwear, Socks and Latin America Group, with responsibility for the $2.5 billion Hanes brand, growing revenue through product innovation and consumer marketing, while simultaneously reducing costs.
Hefner also worked in management consulting at Ernst & Young.
TEMPOSOFT
TempoSoft hired Deborah Schmidt as vice president of business development and strategic alliances.
Schmidt will lead long-term activities in strategic alliances, distribution channels, acquisitions and joint product go-to-market strategy. Recently, HR.com named Schmidt one of the 10 most influential women in the human capital management software industry.
For more than 10 years, Schmidt has been instrumental in the growth of SAP’s market share in human capital management. Most recently, as vice president of the Business Solutions Group at SAP America, she was responsible for the leadership and direction of mySAP ERP, which included the HCM and Financial Management lines of business.
