Ahmed has left Sonus Networks

Sonus Networks, one of the pioneering IP network technology firms of the last decade, continues to endure an overhaul under relatively new CEO Richard Nottenburg. The company announced job cuts last week, recently saw CTO Vikram Saksena leave to join Tellabs, and now chairman and former CEO Hassan Ahmed has left Sonus, the company confirmed.

Ahmed was CEO at Sonus for about 10 years, until last May, when he was replaced in that capacity by former Motorola CTO Nottenburg. Sonus overcame the previous industry downturn, financial miscues and industry consolidation in past years, but this year has seen revenue fall, executives depart and a battle between the firm and its largest investor, Legatum Capital, which accused the company of being too secretive about operational and financial details.

It's unclear where Ahmed will land next, but expect Sonus to elect a new chairman soon. There are few companies like Sonus in telecom that have managed to remain independent in recent years, and Sonus has been mentioned as an acquisition target in the past, so 2009 will be a very interesting year for the company one way or another.

For more:
- Light Reading has the story [1]

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Nottenburg took over at Sonus last May [2]
Sonus tussled with Legatum this year [3]
Sonus acquired Atreus Systems this year [4]