Nortel chief makes room for new blood

Two top longtime Nortel execs leave the company this week after the new CEO takes charge.

Marguerite Reardon Former senior reporter

Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, covering cellphone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate and the consolidation of the phone companies.

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Marguerite Reardon

Dec. 1, 2005 1:13 p.m. PT

Nortel Networks' new chief executive officer, Mike Zafirovski, cleaned house this week, as two longtime executives left the company.

Brian McFadden, Nortel's chief research officer, and Sue Spradley, president of global services and operations, left the telecommunications equipment maker as of Nov. 28, the company said Wednesday.

McFadden and Spradley had worked for Nortel for 28 years and 18 years, respectively.

The management shakeup comes only weeks after Zafirovski took over as CEO from William Owens, the former Nortel CEO.

Zafirovski, who had been at Motorola prior to Nortel, has taken the CEO post at a critical time in Nortel's history as the company tries to rebound from an accounting scandal that resulted in several earnings restatements as well as multiple criminal investigations.

Peter Carbone, vice president and chief architect for Nortel, will take over the research officer post while the company searches for a new chief technology officer.

David Downing, vice president of global services, and John Haydon, vice president of global supply chain, will split Spradley's duties until a replacement is found.