Motorola CTO leaves after Zander’s announced departure

By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- Electronic News, 12/4/2007

In its second major executive change in less than a week, Motorola Inc. executive VP and CTO Padmasree Warrior has left the mobile phone maker, according to reports.

The news comes after Ed Zander announced his plans to step down from the Motorola CEO position come January 1, 2008. He will be succeeded by Greg Brown, the Schaumburg, Ill.-based company’s current president and COO, and will continue to serve as chairman of the board of directors until the annual meeting of stockholders in May 2008.

Motorola’s loss of Warrior is a significant one. Until recently, the 47-year-old executive was responsible for the company’s $4.1 billion research and development investment and is described by Motorola as “wickedly intelligent and articulate” and as “an engineer at heart with a true knack for business” on its Web site. Warrior is also one of the high-tech industry’s best known women and in September was inducted into the Women in Information Technology International Hall of Fame. 

Warrior's operational responsibility included leading Motorola’s global team of 26,000 engineers and directing Motorola Labs, Motorola’s software, emerging early-stage businesses and the corporation’s intellectual property portfolio. She worked at Motorola for 23 years.

According to reports, the company's strategy chief, Rich Nottenburg, will be responsible for Motorola's technology leadership.

Motorola could not be reached by Electronic News for immediate comment.