Ceradyne Chief Officer Ousted After Drop in Income, Profits

By MARIA L. La GANGA

Oct. 7, 1987 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

Costa Mesa-based Ceradyne, a maker of ceramic components for the electronic and aerospace industries, said that John J. Carberry has been “separated” as president, chief operating officer and an employee of the company.

In a terse written statement, the company said Joel Moskowitz, founder and chief executive, will act as interim president. Company officials refused to comment on Carberry’s ouster, which was effective Sept. 17. Carberry could not be reached for comment.

According to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Carberry joined Ceradyne in 1983, serving as vice president for marketing until February, 1985, when he became vice president for operations. Five months later, he was named chief operating officer. In January, Carberry was promoted to company president, a spokeswoman for the firm said.

During the first half of 1987--the period ending June 30 and making up the major portion of Carberry’s tenure as president--Ceradyne’s net income fell 60% to $222,000, from $559,000 for the same period in 1986. Profits for fiscal 1986 fell to $29,000, from $993,000 for the previous year.

In addition to manufacturing ceramic components, Ceradyne is developing a ceramic automobile engine. In March, 1986, Ford Motor Co. purchased an 11% interest in Ceradyne for $10 million.

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Maria L. La Ganga

Maria L. La Ganga is the deputy managing editor for California and Metro, overseeing the Los Angeles Times’ largest editorial department. She joined The Times in 1981 as an academic intern, splitting her time between the former Metro section and National Dragster, the official publication of the National Hot Rod Assn. She has served as Seattle bureau chief, San Francisco bureau chief, edited in the Business section and pitched in on six presidential elections, five for The Times and one for the Guardian. La Ganga left The Times in 2015 and returned in 2018 after a brief hiatus during which she wrote for the Guardian and the Idaho Statesman. She was named city editor in 2022 and promoted to her current role in 2024. La Ganga graduated from Granada Hills High School in the San Fernando Valley and Cal State Northridge, where she studied English literature and journalism.

Ceradyne Chief Officer Ousted After Drop in Income, Profits

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