Nortel names former GE exec to head supply chain

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks named a former General Electric executive on Thursday as its new vice-president of global supply chain and quality.

The appointment of Joel Hackney, effective on Friday, comes three weeks after new chief executive — and 25-year General Electric veteran — Mike Zafirovski took the reins at Nortel, one of the world's biggest telecom equipment suppliers.

Last week, the company confirmed that two high-profile executives were leaving: chief research officer Brian McFadden and president of global services and operations Sue Spradley.

On an interim basis, Nortel appointed John Haydon to head global supply chain and David Downing to lead global services and operations. Peter Carbone will hold the research officer post while a search continues for a new chief technology officer.

Hackney, who worked at GE for 14 years, will report directly to Zafirovski and oversee quality, customer satisfaction, supply chain and order management, Nortel said.

Zafirovski, who joined Nortel 15 November, has said he will focus on raising operating margins to between 13 percent and 19 percent from the low single digits and move to focus the company's research and development spending.