No. 2 Executive at Western Digital Resigns
Edward L. Marinaro, Western Digital’s No. 2 executive, has resigned “to pursue other business interests,” the company said.
Marinaro, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Irvine-based computer company, could not be reached for comment. A company spokesman declined to elaborate on Marinaro’s plans.
A company source said that Marinaro had long been interested in becoming president and perceived that the promotion was further away than he liked. The source said that it was not a performance issue but rather that Marinaro “wants to be president somewhere.”
Company spokesman Mike Pollack said Marinaro’s resignation was voluntary.
The company does not plan to fill the executive vice president job, he said, and has not decided on a successor for the chief operating officer position.
Roger W. Johnson, chairman, president and chief executive, said in a statement that Marinaro “has made many contributions to Western Digital. We wish him well in his new endeavors.”
Marinaro joined Western Digital in June, 1984, as vice president of marketing. He was promoted to senior vice president of operations in March, 1985. He was named vice president in December, 1985, and chief operating officer in November, 1986.
Until his resignation, Marinaro had overseen the company’s Paradise Systems subsidiary, a manufacturer of video controller chips and boards, which Western Digital acquired in December, 1986.
Paradise’s sales doubled to $44 million in the fiscal year ended June 30 and reached $51 million during the first six months of the current year.
Western Digital said it has appointed Chester A. Brown Jr. as vice president and general manager of the Paradise unit to replace Marinaro.
Brown, who joined Western Digital in 1980, most recently has been vice president and general manager of Western Digital’s Communications Subsystems Strategic Business Unit.
Brown has served in several executive posts with Western Digital, including corporate vice president for marketing, vice president of strategic business development and vice president of international sales.
