Gateway names new CEO

news
Sep 7, 20061 min

Former exec from Arrow Electronics begins news job on September 18

After a seven-month search, Gateway has a new CEO.

J. Edward Coleman was named head of the third-largest U.S. PC vendor on Thursday. He replaces Rick Snyder, who had been serving as interim CEO since February, when former President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wayne Inouye left the company.

Coleman, who starts his new job on September 18, previously was a top executive with Arrow Electronics Inc., an electronic components distributor.

The new CEO will have his work cut out for him. Gateway has been struggling of late, posting losses over the past several quarters as it struggles to compete with its larger competitors, Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co.

The 21-year-old company recently rejected a reported US$450 million buyout offer from Lap Shun “John” Hui, the founder of Gateway’s eMachines line.

Interim CEO Snyder remains chairman of Gateway’s board of directors.