Kennedy in as Avaya CEO

Kevin Kennedy, who stepped down as CEO of JDSU yesterday, was announced today as the new CEO and president of Avaya Inc. The move will be effective Jan. 2009.

Charles Giancarlo, the interim CEO, will become Avaya's Chairman of the Board.

"Kevin Kennedy brings to Avaya a deep understanding of the enterprise communications industry and extensive senior management experience," Giancarlo said in a release. "He will join Avaya at a time when we are strongly positioned in our industry. Kevin will lead Avaya to even greater success and further our strategy and execution to be the premier enterprise communications partner for our customers."

In addition to his five years at JDSU, Kennedy has worked for Openwave Systems, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., and he spent 17 years with AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Kennedy, who righted the ship at JDSU, will be tasked with guiding Avaya through the economic gloom that experts almost unanimously agree awaits in 2009. His extensive industry experience should come in handy as he takes over at Avaya. 

For more:
- see the press release here 

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