Motorola Names John Bucher To Lead Mobile Devices Strategy

14th Jun 2010 21:44

By Roger Cheng Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Motorola Inc. (MOT) hired a financial analyst to help shepherd the company's strategy of focusing on the fast-growing smartphone business. The Schaumburg, Ill., company appointed John R. Bucher vice president of strategy for Motorola's mobile devices and home business units. Bucher will report directly to co-Chief Executive Sanjay Jha. Bucher comes as Motorola is readying its planned split of the company. The mobile devices and home business units are slated to break out from the company and form their own business in the first quarter of next year. Rather than an industry veteran, Motorola opted to tap a financial analyst who has covered the telecommunications, satellite and cable sector. He most recently served as a buy-side financial analyst at a "leading equity-only investment management company," and previously served at BMO Capital Markets, where he covered Motorola. Bucher did hold several management positions at Bell Atlantic/Nynex Mobile and PrimeCo Personal Communications, which are both part of Verizon Wireless. The wireless carrier is jointly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group PLC (VOD). He also served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps for 11 years. -By Roger Cheng, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2153; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 14, 2010 16:44 ET (20:44 GMT)