Sony COO named CEO of Palm Computing

From the 3Com Press release
3Com names former Sony executive Carl Yankowski Chief Executive Officer for its Palm Computing subsidiary. "Carl is a highly respected and experienced global business leader with a successful track record of building new markets, extending existing business, ensuring operational excellence and creating brand value," said Eric Benhamou, Chairman and CEO of 3Com. "His wide range of management, technology and marketing experience makes him the ideal executive to extend Palm's leadership in the handheld market." More...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. SANTA CLARA, Calif., — December 2, 1999 — Global networking leader, 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS), today announced the appointment of Carl J. Yankowski as Chief Executive Officer and Director of its Palm Computing, Inc. subsidiary. Yankowski, formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of Sony Electronics, Inc. and President and CEO of the Reebok Brand, joins Palm Computing, the worldwide leader in the handheld computing market, on December 13.

"Carl is a highly respected and experienced global business leader with a successful track record of building new markets, extending existing business, ensuring operational excellence and creating brand value," said Eric Benhamou, Chairman and CEO of 3Com. "His wide range of management, technology and marketing experience makes him the ideal executive to extend Palm's leadership in the handheld market."

"I look forward to working with the Palm team to both expand upon past successes and develop new capabilities and services to reach a broad range of customers throughout the world," said Carl Yankowski.

Originally a systems analyst and electrical engineer with both business and BSEE degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Yankowski has over 25 years of marketing and executive management expertise in growing businesses at leading companies such as Sony, Polaroid, General Electric and Memorex. Since joining Reebok in September 1998, he successfully reorganized the company for growth, streamlined operations and improved profitability.

Previously, Mr. Yankowski spent five years at Sony Electronics, Inc. as President and COO. He was operationally responsible for the development and launch of numerous new, successful products in growing markets which created new business categories for Sony, helped drive revenues from more than $6 billion to more than $10 million, and helped the company become the most respected brand in America in 1995 and 1997. While at Polaroid, Yankowski stimulated strong revenue and profit growth in the business imaging market globally and set up the company's Asia Pacific headquarters.

Executive Palm Management Team Named


Yankowski joins Alan J. Kessler and Judy Bruner as the executive management team of Palm. Kessler, President of Palm since June 1999, continues in that role. Previously he was senior vice president of global customer service for 3Com. Since joining 3Com in 1985, Kessler has held several senior leadership positions in marketing, sales and operations.

Judy Bruner was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Palm in September 1999, after having served most recently as Vice President and Corporate Controller for 3Com. She joined 3Com in 1988 as Corporate Treasurer.

Three Additional Palm Board Directors Announced


In addition to Yankowski's appointment to the Palm Board of Directors, 3Com also announced the addition of Eric A. Benhamou and Susan G. Swenson to the Palm Board. Swenson is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of Leap Wireless International and CEO of Cricket Communications, Inc. Previously, she served as President and CEO of Cellular One, a joint venture between AirTouch/Vodafone and AT&T Wireless.

Eric Benhamou, currently Chairman and CEO of 3Com, continues to lead 3Com, the company he joined in 1987 through 3Com's acquisition of Bridge Communications, Inc. Benhamou co-founded Bridge in 1981 and has been 3Com's CEO since 1990. Yankowski, Swenson and Benhamou join previously named board members James L. Barksdale, Managing Partner of The Barksdale Group, and Gordon A. Campbell, President and Chairman of the Board, Techfarm.Inc.

About Palm Computing


Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company, is the leading provider of personal companion products (IDC, May 1999), including the best-selling Palm III™, Palm V™ and Palm VII™ series of handheld computers. The Palm Computing platform is the premier handheld development environment and is the foundation for the market-leading handheld computers from Palm Computing as well as products from Palm Computing's strategic partners such as IBM, QUALCOMM, Franklin Covey and Symbol Technologies. Designed to support the increasingly mobile and geographically dispersed nature of information management, the company's handheld solutions allow people to carry their most critical information in their pockets. For more information, please visit www.palm.com.

About 3Com Corporation


With over 300 million customer connections worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people and organizations to information and each other in more innovative, simple and reliable ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers e-Networking solutions through information access products and network systems to enterprises, small businesses, consumers, carriers and network service providers. 3Com — More connected.™ For further information, visit 3Com's press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

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