- Push-out Score determined
- After less than three and a half years in the position
- Praise and thanks for Burton
- Robert Hagerty taking over in the interim
- Search for a successor
- Burton said 68 words
(exechange) — Santa Cruz, California, February 10, 2020 — Joe Burton, chief executive of Plantronics, leaves — “by mutual agreement.” As announced by Plantronics Inc. in a news release and in a regulatory filing published on Monday, February 10, 2020, Joe Burton has left his post as chief executive officer at the electronics company producing audio communications equipment after less than three and a half years in the role, effective February 7, 2020.
Plantronics will undertake a search for a successor.
Joe Burton’s duties as CEO will be taken over in the interim by Robert Hagerty, currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Plantronics Inc., as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
“To accelerate the execution of our vision and growth strategy”
Joe Burton’s departure from the CEO post is explained as follows. Hagerty said: “Joe and the Board mutually agreed that now is the right time to identify a new CEO to accelerate the execution of our vision and growth strategy.”
Precise information regarding Joe Burton’s future plans was not immediately available.
“Step down”
Plantronics said: “Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) (“Poly” or the “Company”), a global communications company that powers meaningful human connection and collaboration, today announced that Robert Hagerty, Chairman of the Poly Board of Directors, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This appointment follows Joe Burton’s decision to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer, by mutual agreement with the Board. Mr. Burton will work closely with Mr. Hagerty to ensure an orderly transition of responsibilities.”
Plantronics further said: “This appointment follows Joe Burton stepping down as President and Chief Executive Officer by mutual agreement with the Board, effective February 7, 2020.”
“Not because of a disagreement”
“Mr. Burton’s stepping down is not because of a disagreement with the Company,” Plantronics said.
Share price decline
The announcement follows a decline in Plantronics Inc.’s share price of 82% since July 2018.
In the position of CEO since 2016
Joe Burton became CEO of the Company in 2016.
In connection with his departure, Burton has agreed to continue providing services to the Company to ensure an orderly transition of his responsibilities.
In 2011, Burton joined the Company as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Development and Chief Technology Officer.
To reflect added responsibilities, in 2012 Burton’s title was changed to Senior Vice President of Technology, Development & Strategy and Chief Technology Officer and in 2014 he became Executive Vice President Products, Technology & Strategy and Chief Technology Officer.
In 2015, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and was named President and CEO and was appointed to the Board in October 2016.
Prior to joining Plantronics, Burton held various executive management, engineering leadership, strategy, and architecture-level positions.
From 2010 to 2011, Burton was employed by Polycom, Inc., a global provider of unified communications solutions for telepresence, video and voice, most recently as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer and, for a period of time, as General Manager, Service Provider concurrently with his technology leadership role.
From 2001 to 2010, Burton was employed by Cisco Systems, Inc., a global provider of networking equipment, and served in various roles with increasing responsibility including Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Unified Communications and Vice President, SaaS Platform Engineering, Collaboration Software Group.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Excelsior College (formerly Regents College) and attended the Stanford Executive Program.
Push-out Score determined
The Push-out Score™ determined by exechange gauges the pressure surrounding the management change on a scale of 0 to 10.
exechange reached out to Plantronics and offered the company the opportunity to comment on the score.
Read the full story in the exechange report 7.2020 ($).