Thornton Steps Down as CEO of Wavetek

John M. Thornton said Tuesday that he has stepped down as president and chief executive of Wavetek Corp. because he wants to spend more time with his other business interests.

Thornton, a 20-year veteran of the electronic test and measurement equipment manufacturer, will remain as chairman. John W. Battin was named to replace Thornton. Battin was most recently senior vice president and general manager of Motorola’s Communications, Portable, Paging and Components Group, which has annual revenue of about $750 million.

Battin’s appointment comes six months after Louis W. Abbott stepped down as Wavetek president as part of a corporate restructuring to boost the company’s sales and marketing organization.

At the time, Thornton, who was chairman and chief executive, assumed the presidency.

Battin’s appointment means that Thornton will no longer have daily responsibility for operations.

Thornton is also chairman of Micom Systems, a data-communications firm in Simi Valley with $170 million in sales last year.