A delayed initial public offering and the resulting moves toward integration with the company’s parent in Japan compelled top executives at mobile-phone maker Kyocera Wireless Corp. to resign, the company said.
Howard Speaks resigned as Kyocera’s chief executive officer and president. He was hired in 2001 to lead the company toward an eventual IPO, a plan the company abandoned due to changes in the economy and market. John Heffner, Kyocera’s vice president and chief financial officer, also resigned. He was hired in 2000 to lead the transition effort following Kyocera’s purchase of Qualcomm Inc.’s phone business.
“With Skip’s leadership and John’s support, KWC was able to maintain the top position in the U.S. CDMA segment,” said Rodney Lanthorne, president of Kyocera International Inc., the parent company of Kyocera Wireless. “However, with the industry entering into a new and more competitive phase, with greater emphasis on scale, it is necessary that Kyocera pursue greater integration. This transition resulted in philosophical differences with these two capable executives that led to their departure. Nonetheless, we have a great sense of gratitude for their respective contributions during a difficult period, and extend our best wishes for their future endeavors.”
A veteran Kyocera executive, Tsuyoshi Mano, will serve as Kyocera Wireless’ new president. Mano was formerly the company’s vice president of business planning and development. Richard Duckworth, formerly Kyocera Wireless’ controller, will serve as the company’s vice president of finance.
Mano said the plan to align Kyocera’s global operations in developing and manufacturing wireless phones would lead to stronger results at Kyocera Wireless.
“Our immediate goals for KWC include enhancing the timeliness of our new product introductions, streamlining the operations and improving profitability,” he said.
In other wireless news, Kyocera scored several deals for its machine-to-machine telemetry module, including a Verizon Wireless certification, a deal with Airdesk and a multimillion dollar supply agreement with Land-Cellular.
