Decker retires from Conexant, again

By Suzanne Deffree, News Editor -- Electronic News, 3/26/2007

Once again, Conexant Systems Inc. announced that Dwight W. Decker plans to retire as the broadband communications company's CEO. Today’s announcement is the second time Decker, 57, has resigned from the company.

Decker’s first retirement from Conexant’s CEO seat was in February 2004 when the company merged with GlobespanVirata. At the time of the merger, Armando Geday, CEO of the company, became CEO of the combined company, with Decker assuming the role of non-executive chairman. Geday resigned for personal reasons just a few months later, and in November 2004, Conexant's board of directors asked Decker to return to his previous position.

Decker was originally appointed CEO when Conexant spun off from Rockwell International in 1999. He will remain in his current position until a replacement is named and afterward is expected to continue serving the company as its non-executive chairman of the board, Newport Beach, Calif.-based Conexant said.

"When I agreed to come back as chief executive officer, Conexant faced significant challenges," Decker said in the company’s statement. "I committed to returning the company to profitability and restructuring the balance sheet, to rebuilding the company's core market-share positions, and to laying the foundation for future growth by focusing on new-product development and leveraging lower-cost offshore resources.

"The Conexant team has accomplished a great deal in each of these areas over the past two and one-half years," Decker said. "We face continuing challenges, most particularly the weaker-than-planned revenue outlook that we outlined earlier this quarter, but the team and I are committed to working through these near-term challenges."

While no official reason for the retirement was given, Jerre L. Stead, chairman of the board's management development and compensation committee, said that over the past year Decker has discussed with the board his desire to resume his retirement.

The company is currently searching for Conexant's next CEO. Decker is expected to retire in the fall of this year.