On July 19, CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: COMM) announced that Morgan Kurk is stepping down as chief technology officer and segment leader of its Broadband Networks unit, effective immediately.
Tom Cloonan, PhD, currently chief technology officer of the CommScope Broadband Networks segment, has been appointed as chief technology officer on an interim basis, as the company evaluates its longer-term strategic requirements of the CTO office.
As cited by the company, Dr. Cloonan, who joined CommScope through its ARRIS acquisition, is an industry veteran with a well-established track record of innovative technology leadership. With his extensive experience and contributions to the evolution of modern communications infrastructure solutions, the company said Cloonan is well-positioned to serve in this expanded role. Cloonan previously served as CTO of the ARRIS Network and Cloud segment, among other positions, since 2002. He was previously the CTO and CEO and co-founder of the CMTS start-up company CADANT.
Cloonan also worked as a hardware/software/DSP/ASIC designer, architect and Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Lucent Bell Laboratories, focusing on voice, ATM and routing programs. He has a BSEE degree from Illinois Institute of Technology, a MSEE degree from Purdue University and a PhD in Physics from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and a 2019 inductee of the Cable TV Pioneers.
Chuck Treadway, CommScope's president and chief executive officer, commented, “Tom brings a wealth of technology expertise, particularly in next generation cable technologies. Prior to his 17 years with ARRIS, Tom spent 17 years at Bell Labs, delivering cutting-edge technologies to telecom providers. His work has resulted in more than 60 patents and over 100 published papers.”
CommScope concurrently announced that Ric Johnsen, currently senior vice president of the company's Converged Network Solutions (CNS) business, will now assume leadership of the entirety of its Broadband Networks segment. As cited by CommScope, Johnsen is an experienced operator with deep industry knowledge across both the active and passive network infrastructure solutions supported by CommScope. He has also led much of the work in the company’s design and delivery of advanced virtualized headend solutions, edge products (Remote PHY and Remote MAC PHY), and PON technologies, "and he is very well positioned to lead the segment in delivering the networks of the future," said a company statement.
Previously, Johnsen led CommScope’s Network Cable and Connectivity business for nearly 11 years. Prior to joining CommScope, he served as president and chief executive officer of Alloptic, a manufacturer and provider of passive optical networking and RF solutions equipment. His prior experience includes serving as vice president at OFS with responsibilities for fiber-optic cable sales, marketing and product engineering. Johnsen also worked at Alcatel where he was vice president of the optical fiber business for Europe and Asia. Johnsen served in the United States Army and received a BS degree in general engineering from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He also received an MS degree in communications engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
CommScope's Treadway commented, “Throughout his 11 years at CommScope, Ric has led a wide range of business segments, including overseeing operations of our Outside Plant Solutions business and most recently the CNS business. Prior to joining CommScope, he led the team responsible for developing and introducing our most advanced emerging technologies. His industry knowledge and experience, as well as his disciplined, accountability-first leadership approach, honed during his time in the United States Army, make him an invaluable member of our team and an ideal candidate to lead Broadband Networks."
Treadway added, “On behalf of the entire board and management team, I want to thank Morgan for his contributions to CommScope and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
“Helping shape CommScope into a global network connectivity leader across the wired and wireless industry over the last 14 years has been beyond fulfilling. I look forward to seeing the company’s continued success in the communications industry,” said Kurk.
Treadway concluded, “We are making progress on our CommScope NEXT initiative, optimizing our portfolio and cost structure and driving toward growth that outpaces the market. We are fortunate to have the best employees in the industry and a deep bench of talent. Tom and Ric are emblematic of that talent. We are excited to see them take on these key leadership roles, where they will help lead the drive toward our CommScope NEXT objectives. I am more confident than ever that CommScope is well-positioned for the future."