Former Apple exec goes to start-up

Ellen Hancock, the executive vice president who left Apple Computer (AAPL) last July in a management shakeup, today was named president of Exodus Communications, an Internet start-up that plans to go public.

Many of the former Apple executives who left in last year's reshuffling since have landed new jobs. Among them: Ousted CEO Gil Amelio joined the San Francisco investment firm Parkside Group as a partner and director; chief operating officer George Scalise resigned to become president of the Semiconductor Industry Association; executive vice president of marketing Guerrino De Luca was named CEO of Logitech; and head of worldwide sales Marco Landi was named general manager of BMC Software's European operations.

Hancock, 54, will report directly to Exodus chief executive Chandra Sekhar. Closely held Exodus,

Ellen Hancock

which provides Internet system and network management solutions, was founded in 1994. Last month the company filed for an IPO to raise up to $44 million. It also bolstered its management by hiring former Sybase senior executive Louis Muggeo, 46, to be vice president of customer service and support.

"We are pleased to have such a seasoned industry veteran join the company," Sekhar said in a statement. "Hancock's breadth of management experience, coupled with her technology industry knowledge, will be valuable."

Hancock was part of Apple's management under Amelio. As executive vice president and chief technology officer, she was one of the highest-ranking women in the high-technology industry.

Both Amelio and Hancock left the company last July, when acting CEO Steve Jobs took control of the computer maker. (See related story) Since then, other Amelio hires also have left.

Like Amelio, Hancock previously worked at National Semiconductor. Hancock also worked as a senior executive at IBM.

"I'm pleased to help Exodus continue to deliver solutions designed for doing business on the Internet," she said.