Juniper says changes management, hires Cisco exec

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Communications equipment maker Juniper Networks on Tuesday said it has hired a nine-year veteran of rival Cisco Systems and announced a series of promotions and departures in its executive ranks.

Juniper, which makes routers and switches for telecommunications providers and businesses, named Paulette Altmaier as executive vice president of its Application Products Group.

Altmaier previously served as a vice president and general manager at Cisco, where she led the creation of Cisco's integrated services router portfolio, Juniper said.

Altmaier succeeds Jef Graham, who is leaving Juniper to run a privately held company, Juniper said.

The management changes come as analysts sound mostly upbeat notes about Juniper. Citigroup's B. Alex Henderson rates the company a "buy", though in a note to analysts said Juniper could face increased competition in some parts of the router market from companies such as Alcatel and Tellabs.

Juniper also said that Eddie Minshull will become the company's executive vice president of Worldwide Field Operations, taking over from Jim Dolce, who is leaving to pursue personal interests. Minshull ran Juniper's Europe, Middle East and Africa division.

Also leaving the company is Carol Mills, executive vice president and general manager of the Infrastructure Products Group. Taking her position is Kim Perdikou, a member of that group and former executive at Reader's Digest.

Jeff Lindholm will take on the role of chief marketing officer after leading the company's worldwide sales organisation for more than three years, Juniper said.

Dolce's departure is "not a positive" for Juniper because investors appreciated his insights into the market, said Stephen Kamman, an analyst with CIBC World Markets.

Still, he said, the changes are "growing pains from a company that's going from being a tight, focused router company to a much broader entity."