Micron appoints new boss after plane crash kills CEO

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 6 Feb 2012 at 08:17

Memory chipmaker Micron has moved to appoint a company veteran after chairman and CEO after Steve Appleton was killed in a plane crash.

Hours after Appleton's death, Micron's board named Mark Durcan, the president and chief operating officer, as temporary CEO and analysts speculated he could be asked to stay on full-time.

We are fortunate to be able to appoint someone with Mark's operations and technical leadership experience

The 51-year-old Appleton, a three-decade industry veteran who performed stunts at airshows, died after the small plane he was piloting crashed at an airport in Idaho, where the chipmaker is based.

His death is another major blow to a company that is already struggling with sluggish computer sales and declining prices.

The quick appointment of Durcan, 51, as CEO came just a week after the company announced he would retire in August.

Durcan joined Micron in 1984 and served as chief technology officer before becoming chief operating officer in 2007.

Seen as Micron's even-keeled top technologist, Durcan has taken on a greater role running the chipmaker in the past few years, while the more flamboyant Appleton focused on strategy.

Micron's board of directors also named director Robert Switz the new chairman of the board. Switz was formerly CEO of ADC Telecommunications.

"We are fortunate to be able to appoint someone with Mark's operations and technical leadership experience to serve as the company's CEO," said Switz.

"Mark has been instrumental in Micron's success in his role as President and COO and has garnered the respect of the company, his team members and the industry at large."