Following press speculation, Bay Networks Inc has tacitly confirmed that its president and CEO Andy Ludwick is planning to step down (CI No 2,959) although the company is not saying when, or who will replace him. Ludwick, who held the same position with SynOptics Communications Inc prior to the merger with Wellfleet Communications Inc that formed Bay, has guided the transition from two companies into one. Officially, Bay is not commenting on the widely-circulating rumors of Ludwick’s departure. However, on a conference call to analysts, Ludwick gave the strongest indication yet that it is on the cards, saying that I’ve been running the show for more than a decade and one thing I’ve said in the past is that I have a self-imposed term limit of ten years. Bay certainly appears to be at the right point to make significant management changes: over the last year, it has followed through on its long-term strategy of evolving from product-focused units, to customer-focused units, and last week put the final piece of the puzzle into place with the announcement of a realignment of its sales force. Under the new organizational structure, sales are now divided in three groups: the US; international sales; and customer support. US sales will be headed by Gene Wahlberg; Gary Rogers will handle international sales; and Lloyd Carney will continue as VP of worldwide customer support. The company also announced the retirement as planned of Gary Bowen, senior VP of worldwide sales and support. As regards a replacement for Ludwick, the New York Times contacted analysts, and found the name of current Sun Microsystems Inc president Ed Zander cropping up; Sun is also refusing comment. Bay chairman Paul Severino, who was president and CEO of SynOptics at the time of the merger, seems to have ruled himself out, by saying that he does not want to take on any extra responsibility.
