Jacobson Resigns From Computer Consoles Unit

The general manager of Computer Consoles’ computer division in Irvine has resigned his position “to pursue other career opportunities,” company officials said Wednesday.

The company named N. D’Arcy Roche, former president and chief operating officer of Santa Clara-based Ridge Computers, to replace John P. (Jake) Jacobson as senior vice president and general manager in Irvine.

Jacobson, who has headed the 300-employee Irvine division since 1985, has not provided details of his career plans, according to company spokeswoman Anne M. Prine.

Computer Consoles, based in Waltham, Mass., is a manufacturer of minicomputers and communications products. The Irvine computer division lost $12 million in 1987, but recently has returned to profitability.

‘Division Stabilized’

“Jacobson was instrumental in CCI’s return to profitability from its earlier disappointing performance,” said company chairman John F. Cunningham. “Under his management, revenues from the computer products division increased substantially and operations of the division stabilized.”

Separately, the company said it plans to begin shipments of a new series of mid-range computers, dubbed the CCI Power 7/64, in the first quarter of 1989. The new products will be powered by advanced computer chips designed by the Irvine division.

The chips--the result of a three-year, $20-million development effort--will incorporate an advanced technology known as reduced-instruction-set-computing, or RISC. Computer Consoles’ new machines will manipulate data about five times faster than the company’s current models, the company said.