Lotus Founder to Run Business Products Unit

Lotus Development said Wednesday that founder and Chairman Mitchell D. Kapor is taking over as general manager for the business products division, the unit that produces and markets the company’s leading software programs such as 1-2-3, Symphony and Jazz.

Kapor will continue to serve as chairman and to “direct corporate strategy in partnership with” President Jim P. Manzi, Lotus said. In his additional post he replaces Charles Digate, who was named vice president and general manager of the international division and assigned to explore new lines of business for the company.

Cambridge, Mass.-based Lotus, the leading developer of software for personal computers, has suffered recently from the computer industry slump, defects with some products and especially disappointing sales of its Jazz program for Apple computers.

Lotus said Kapor will continue to actively participate in general development work. Edward Belove, vice president of corporate research and development, will direct cross-divisional product development work and oversee corporate research and development. Irfan Salim, formerly head of the international division, has been appointed to serve as vice president of the company’s European operations.

Lotus said the new assignments grew from a companywide reorganization around five divisions and four departments that was completed in August.