Best wishes to Garry Betty, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
EarthLink Chief Will Take a Medical Leave to Battle Cancer
By BLOOMBERG NEWS
Published: November 22, 2006
EarthLink, the Web access provider, said yesterday that its chief executive, Garry Betty, would take a medical leave to fight cancer.
Michael Lunsford will become interim chief executive, EarthLink said yesterday in a statement.
Mr. Betty, 49, has not decided how much time he will take, EarthLink said. He has been chief since the company first sold shares 10 years ago. In that time, sales rose to $1.29 billion last year, from $52.6 million in 1997. As an executive vice president, Mr. Lunsford managed access and voice businesses, accounting for about 70 percent of sales.
EarthLink said Mr. Betty learned of his diagnosis on Monday and called it a “serious form” of the disease without specifying the type of cancer.
EarthLink in the last year sacrificed profit growth to invest in wireless networks and broadband services to help reduce dependence on sales of dial-up Internet access. Dial-up services accounted for less than half of third-quarter revenue, compared with almost 60 percent a year earlier.
Kevin Dotts, the chief financial officer, said that company managers and directors discuss executive succession plans annually and were prepared for yesterday’s announcement “as best as could be expected.”
nytimes.com |
