Raytheon Reorganizes Commercial Electronics Business to Pursue Growth Opportunities; Appoints Del Lippert Vice President - Company Operations

Cambridge Telcom Report, Oct 18, 1999

Raytheon Company has reorganized its commercial electronics businesses to capitalize on emerging growth opportunities by combining several organizations from its defense operation with its existing commercial electronics business to form one larger, more focused organization. Concurrently, Delbert E. Lippert has been appointed vice president of the newly structured commercial electronics business reporting to Raytheon Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Burnham. Lippert, 57, previously served as acting group executive for the former commercial electronics business.

"Raytheon has some of the greatest engineering and scientific capabilities in the world. This reorganization will enable us to pursue more opportunities to translate that expertise into growth for our commercial electronics businesses," Burnham said. "Prior to this change, several of our commercial businesses were smaller parts of larger defense businesses. Now the commercial businesses will receive the focused attention they need to grow rapidly and profitably. Del has done an outstanding job of assessing opportunities and developing innovative marketing and growth strategies for our existing commercial electronics operations. He'll bring that same innovative and entrepreneurial spirit to this new, broader assignment."

The businesses that Lippert will have responsibility for are expected to have sales in 1999 of over $400 million. The established businesses in this portfolio include: Raytheon Marine, a supplier of marine electronic equipment for the recreational and high seas markets headquartered in Manchester, N.H.; Raytheon RF Components, a manufacturer and marketer of world-class monolithic microwave integrated circuit components and modules based in Andover, Mass., and ELCAN, one of the leading suppliers of precision optical lenses and assemblies with locations in Midland, Ontario and Dallas, Texas.

Lippert will have responsibility for emerging commercial businesses such as Night Vision, a low-cost, infrared imaging system for automobiles that extends the driver's night vision to as much as five times that of conventional low-beam headlights, and Raytheon Telecommunications Company, a developer of broadband communication products for the fast-growing wireless communications market.

Lippert will seek to capitalize further on Raytheon's intellectual property portfolio by developing additional new commercial businesses, working with business partners to exploit new technologies and licensing technology to others.

Previously, the Night Vision, Raytheon Telecommunications Company and ELCAN businesses reported into Raytheon Systems Company, Raytheon's defense electronics operation.

Lippert joined Raytheon as president, Raytheon Marine Company in 1997. Previously, he served as executive vice president and president Asia Pacific for Prime/Computervision and as president and CEO of NovaTel. He held a number of managerial positions for the former Digital Equipment Company, including vice president, Corporate Educational Services.

Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology leader that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and defense electronics, engineering and construction, and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon has operations throughout the United States and serves customers in more than 80 countries.