LOS ANGELES COUNTY - News from Aug. 14, 1985

Computer Memories, a Chatsworth-based disk-drive maker stung by IBM’s decision earlier this week to let its contract lapse, Tuesday named a senior vice president to head its research and development operations.

The new executive, Stanley F. Brown, had worked as a technology consultant since early 1984. Before then, he was a vice president for operations at Atasi, a financially struggling disk-drive company that Computer Memories tried to acquire this summer.

Brown, 45, a one-time IBM engineer who holds six technical patents, joined Computer Memories a day after it received some very unwelcome news: On Monday, it announced that IBM, whose orders accounted for 81% of the company’s revenue in the quarter ended June 30, will not renew its contract at year-end.

Brown, who will direct Computer Memories’ research and development from its offices in Cupertino, Calif., will report directly to Gary Streuter, president and chief operating officer. The post of senior vice president for R&D; is a newly created one.