Alca-Lu LTE head departing company

The head of Alcatel-Lucent's 4G/LTE wireless networks division, Mary Chan, is leaving the company less than eight months after assuming the position.

Chan, who became head of the division in January, said she is leaving the vendor to "pursue opportunities outside of the telecom network infrastructure segment." Ken Wirth has been appointed to lead the division. He is currently heading up Alcatel-Lucent's business segment.

During her eight-month tenure, Chan garnered a major LTE contract With Verizon Wireless and was the only vendor to supply IMS, enhanced packet core and the radio access network.

Earlier this month, CEO Ben Verwaayen made a pointed reference to LTE as a technology capable of fueling the company's recovery [1]. "A lot is happening in LTE around the world, and not all of it is announced. We are extremely well positioned." Analysts interpreted that to mean the fast-pace of LTE deployments planned for the U.S.

For more:
- see Wireless Week [2]

Related articles:
Alca-Lu posts profit, points to LTE momentum [1]
Verizon Wireless picks Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent for LTE buildout [3]