Symantec sacks CEO Steve Bennett

VARINDIA- INDIA'S FRONTLINE IT MAGAZINE

In a move that has stunned the industry insiders and analysts, IT security company Symantec Corp has fired CEO Steve Bennett, who had taken over the helm of the company less than two years back.Bennett is the second CEO to be terminated from his job after the company sacked Enrique Salem in July 2012. The board of directors of the Mountain View based software company has appointed Michael Brown as interim president and chief executive officer, until a permanent replacement is found. "We recognise Steve's contributions to Symantec, including developing and leading a series of successful initiatives focused on organisational realignment, cost reduction and process effectiveness," said Daniel Schulman, chairman of Symantec's Board of Directors, in a statement. "Our priority is now to identify a leader who can leverage our company's assets and leadership team to drive the next stage of Symantec's product innovation and growth. This considered decision was the result of an ongoing deliberative process, and not precipitated by any event or impropriety." Brown, who was previously  chairman and chief executive officer of Quantum,  joined Symantec's Board of Directors following the company's merger with storage giant Veritas Software in July 2005.