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National Semiconductor Corp. promoted longtime executive Donald Macleod to president, effective May 30. Macleod will retain the title of chief operating officer (COO).

As president, Macleod will assume one of the roles held by Brian Halla, National's chairman and CEO. Halla, who has been National's president since 1996, will retain his other titles.

A spokesperson for National characterized the promotion as recognition of Macleod's years of service to National and his role in helping to refocus National as an analog products company over the past three years. The division of responsibilities will enable Halla to concentrate more on his role as a corporate spokesman for National while Macleod absorbs some of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the company, the spokesperson said.

National said Macleod would drive National's operational activities, including sales, manufacturing, technology development and business systems, while continuing to manage the company's product groups.

Macleod, 56, has served as executive vice president, COO and general manager of the product lines since 2001. Prior to becoming COO, Macleod served as National's executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) for 10 years. Macleod joined National in 1978 from the accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick and has held a number of senior leadership positions in finance, operations and marketing for the company in the U.S. and Europe.

In a statement issued Wednesday (May 11), Halla called the promotion well deserved. Macleod "has consistently succeeded in every role we've asked him to take on at National," Halla said. "In his new expanded position, he will continue to lead the execution of our ongoing high performance analog strategy, enabling us to maximize returns for our shareholders."

By: DocMemory
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