Western Digital Names IBM’s Haggerty as President

Western Digital Corp. on Tuesday named a longtime IBM executive as its new president and chief operating officer.

Charles A. Haggerty, vice president of IBM’s data storage unit in Sommers, N.Y., will report directly to Roger W. Johnson, who will retain the titles of chairman and chief executive. During the past decade, Johnson built Western Digital into a billion-dollar company but recently conceded that he needed help running it.

“I have too many jobs,” said Johnson, who is relinquishing the title of president. “I was going to do this a year ago but had to put it off while we dealt with our financial problems.”

Haggerty’s task is formidable. The company has been unprofitable for seven quarters and reported a loss of $18 million for the three-month period that ended March 31. Johnson said the company hopes to break even, however, for its fourth fiscal quarter, which ends June 30.

Haggerty, 50, who spent 28 years at IBM in a variety of management and executive jobs, said he hopes to continue Western Digital’s financial recovery. He joins Western Digital on June 1.

Johnson, 57, said in an interview with The Times in December that he was considering giving up one of his titles and laying out a clear line of succession.

On Tuesday, Johnson said he will focus on strategic issues. Haggerty, he said, will manage the company’s day-to-day operations.