AMP's exec corps gets a facelift

Electronic News, Feb 2, 1998 by Bernard Levine

HARRISBURG, PA.--AMP president/CEO William Hudson, who has been remolding the connector leader into a global business structure in recent months to boost profitability, last week put a new round of organizational changes into effect. Major new responsibilities have been given to executive VP Robert Ripp, among a host of key moves that also sees additional duties for chairman Jim Marley.

Mr. Ripp has been put in charge of all of AMP's global businesses, while Mr. Marley has been named acting head of AMP's worldwide support operations. AMP's Herbert Cole returns to the U.S. from his Asia-Pacific post to head AMP's Terminal and Connector operations worldwide. He also becomes acting head of the Americas region, picking up the latter duties from Mr. Marley, who has handled them since Dennis Horowitz resigned last year.

Mr. Hudson has set up two new operations reporting to him, called Global Businesses and Global Competencies. Each operation is to be headed by one leader, along with finance, regional and staff functions.

"Today's organization announcement reflects our success over the past several years in cultivating leadership talent and teamwork," said Mr. Hudson. "By stretching promising executives and managers through international and cross-functional assignments, AMP now has a cadre of global business executives to lead the company profitably into the 21st century. Building a strong team at the top encourages managers likewise to build teams throughout the company--and that has been a major goal for us as a multi-cultural company."

AMP's board elected Mr. Ripp to serve as head of all Global Businesses, while Mr. Marley was appointed the acting head of Global Competencies.

In other board actions, William Urkiel, VP of finance, was elected chief financial officer, John Kegel was elected corporate VP, Asia/Pacific and Mark Lang was elected controller.

Reporting to executive VP Ripp are the company's global business units, as well as both global and regional sales and marketing. That responsibility could set him up to be a successor to Mr. Hudson. Specifically, Mr. Ripp is responsible for the Automotive, Communications, and Personal Computers businesses, and also for the combination of two former global businesses into one, to be known as the Consumer, Industrial, and Power business. Nazario Proietto, corporate VP, who headed the former Power Technology Division, has been appointed president of the Global Consumer, Industrial and Power business. Global Sales & Marketing, under VP Charles Wingate, regional sales and marketing and AMPeMerce, the company's electronic commerce division, now also report to Mr. Ripp.

Concurrently, Javad Hassan is designated VP, Global Strategy and Development reporting to Mr. Hudson, in which role he will also continue in charge of ATM Systems and Optoelectronics operations. Mr. Hassan will continue as acting head of the Communications business.

As acting head of Global Competencies--the product support units of AMP--Mr. Marley will be responsible for Terminal and Connector Operations, Global Operations, Valued-Added Operations, Wireless Products, Automation Systems, and the Customer Satisfaction and Business Effectiveness group.

Mr. Cole, corporate VP and formerly president of AMP's Asia-Pacific region, will return to the U.S. to assume leadership of AMP's Terminal and Connector Operations worldwide reporting to Mr. Marley.

In addition, Mr. Cole will be the acting head of the Americas region, replacing Mr. Marley in that role. John Gurski, who has directed Global Operations, will serve in the dual function of corporate VP for Global Operations Staff, including Logistics and Procurement, as well as for Value Added Operations, comprising Cable Systems, CIR-PAC (Circuits and Packaging), and Optical Connectors and Accessories. Richard Kaleida, VP, Global Procurement, is appointed VP, U.S. Terminal and Connector Operations, reporting to Mr. Cole. He is replaced by Uldis Sipols, who is appointed VP, Global Purchasing, reporting to John Gurski.

Reporting to new CFO Urkiel will be Mark Lang, the newly elected controller. Mr. Lang joins the corporate finance function from the Global Communications Business, where he served as its controller. Global Planning, Information Systems, Internal Audit, Tax, Treasury, and Investor Relations report directly to Mr. Urkiel.

In AMP's three geographical regions, Mr. Cole assumes responsibility for the Americas; Thomas DiClemente remains president of EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa); and John Kegel will move to Tokyo to become corporate VP of the Asia/Pacific region. All will report to Mr. Hudson.

AMP also announced the appointments of Franz W. Schumacher as VP, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), Global Automotive Business and Marco Antonio Ginciene as VP, South American Global Automotive Business and South America Area.

Mr. Hudson noted that putting the global businesses under one executive, Mr. Ripp, lets customers "see a unified AMP that is increasingly focused on their emerging and converging needs." Similarly, combining the Global Competencies under the guidance of Mr. Marley "enables greater concentration on service to internal and external customers and on AMP's bottom line." Mr. Hudson pointed out that the supporting and guiding force behind the global businesses and competencies is AMP's innovative and industry-focused technology function led by VP and chief technology officer, Philippe Lemaitre.