Prime Computer of Natick, Mass., announced the...

Prime Computer of Natick, Mass., announced the appointment of John J. Shields as president and chief operating officer and said that after a one-year “transition,” he would succeed James F. McDonald as chief executive.

Prime also said McDonald, while continuing as chief executive, has been appointed vice chairman of Prime’s board.

Shields, 51, joins Prime after 28 years at Digital Equipment Corp., where he began as a field service engineer. His last position at Digital was senior vice president of worldwide sales and services, industry/channels marketing and the international organization, with a global work force of more than 70,000 people.