CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: COMM) has announced that Morgan Kurk, CTO and segment leader of Broadband Networks, has left the company. Tom Cloonan, PhD, current CTO of the Broadband Networks segment, will step in as company CTO on an interim basis as CommScope “evaluates its longer-term strategic requirements of the CTO office,” in the words of the announcement. Facing no such uncertainty as far as the Broadband Networks segment, CommScope tabbed Ric Johnsen, senior vice president of the Converged Network Solutions (CNS) business, as Kurk’s replacement in the leadership role for that group.
The company did not reveal why Kurk stepped down – nor, so far, has Kurk. “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 via the announcement.
Cloonan joined CommScope via the ARRIS acquisition in 2019 (see "CommScope closes ARRIS acquisition"). “Tom brings a wealth of technology expertise, particularly in next generation cable technologies,” commented Chuck Treadway, CommScope’s president and CEO. “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.”
Johnsen is the former CEO of EPON and RF over Glass technology company Alloptic, which CTDI purchased in 2010. CommScope cites Johnsen as instrumental to the development of the company’s virtualized headend products, cable edge products (Remote PHY and Remote MACPHY), and PON technologies.
“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,” said Treadway. “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.”
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