Motorola's revolving executives persist

When new chief executives take over companies, it's not unusual for them to clean house and appoint new executives.

But when it happens at Schaumburg-based Motorola Inc., heads turn. Indeed, they're whipsawed by now.

As revenues and profits crumble, the legendary company has been shaking up its top executive ranks in recent months as it prepares to sell its mobile phone business, stem bleeding profits and recover market share losses.

Since CEO Greg Brown took over for Ed Zander earlier this year, he's made several changes, the latest involving the exit of Chief Marketing Officer Kenneth "Casey" Keller. The former H.J. Heinz Co. executive was at Motorola for about 1½ years and reportedly left Feb. 29.

"Marketing is vital to Motorola, and this restructuring will ensure that our marketing efforts are even more closely aligned with our businesses," Motorola spokeswoman Jennifer Erickson said Thursday.

Keller will be replaced by two other insiders: Eduardo Conrado, vice president of global business, technology marketing and communications; and Jeremy Dale, vice president of global marketing and communications for the Mobile Devices business. Both experienced marketing pros will work closely with Motorola's design and development teams.

Brown is doing the right things, says Mark McKechnie, a telecom analyst with American Technology Research.

"He's a man that Motorola needs right now to work itself through these rough waters," McKechnie said.

Just when Brown was announced to replace Zander late last year, Chief Technology Officer Padmasree Warrior left to take a similar position with Cisco Systems Inc. Then human resources director Ruth Fattori left for MetLife.

And Stu Reed -- who distinguished himself by slicing the supply chain with plant closings and thousands of layoffs -- had briefly lead the mobile phone business before he was pushed aside. Brown took over the day-to-day operations of that business and said Mobile Devices would go up for sale.

The next big move was replacing interim Chief Financial Officer Tom Meredith with Paul Liska, a partner at several private-equity funds and former chief financial officer at Sears Holdings Corp.

"This is all pretty standard for when a company is in trouble," McKechnie said.