Alcatel taps new CTO

Telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel appointed Niel Ransom as its new chief technology officer, the France-based company announced Friday. Ransom will be responsible for the company's technology, network strategy and intellectual property. He will also head Alcatel's research program and oversee the development of all internal or acquired technologies from the start-up phase to a mature business. Ransom joined Alcatel in 1997 as general manager of the local networks business unit and recently served as vice president and CTO of Alcatel Americas since June 2000. He also held positions at BellSouth and Bell Labs Alcatel's former CTO, Martin De Prycker, joined the company in 1982 and worked as president of the company's carrier data division before becoming CTO in 2000. He stepped down from the position to pursue other interests outside of the company.