IBM Taps MCI’s Maine as Finance Chief

IBM Corp. said it named MCI Communications Corp.’s Douglas Maine as its new chief financial officer, ending a 10-month search. Maine, who held that position at MCI, succeeds G. Richard Thoman, who left the computer company last June to become president and chief operating officer of Xerox Corp. Lawrence Ricciardi, IBM’s general counsel, will continue to serve as interim CEO until Maine joins the company May 1. Analysts said Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM’s long search suggests Chief Executive Louis Gerstner will keep to his pattern of having his finance chief be a close advisor on strategic matters. Maine’s departure from MCI after 20 years was not surprising. Maine, 49, had not yet been named to a position within the new company to be created by MCI’s merger with WorldCom Inc. IBM shares fell $2.19 to close at $104.19 on the NYSE.