Anderson Resigns From MAI Systems

In another sign of a rocky corporate restructuring, MAI Systems Corp., Tustin, said Wednesday that Fred D. Anderson Jr. has resigned as president and chief operating officer to pursue other interests.

Anderson, 46, is the second top officer to leave the computer reseller since November, when Chairman William Weksel departed to pursue other interests. Bennett S. LeBow, the New York financier with an 80% stake in MAI, is serving as chairman.

Fred Anderson will be succeeded by Peter S. Anderson (no relation), a former Western Union Corp. executive who is a longtime associate of MAI’s new vice chairman, Robert J. Amman.

Amman said the change in top executives is an attempt to bring in a manager with experience at turning around struggling companies. “Fred is a strong executive, and this change doesn’t reflect on him,” he said.

As president and chief operating officer since January, 1990, Fred Anderson had overseen MAI’s conversion from a manufacturer of minicomputer systems to a value-added reseller of business software packaged with computers made by other companies.

Fred Anderson, who started with the company in 1978 in the company’s international division, said he is not ready to disclose his business plans. He declined to comment on whether his departure was related to the company’s recent loss and layoffs.