CA to name CEO in 30 to 45 days

Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) expects to fill its chief executive officer (CEO) vacancy within the next 30 to 45 days, the company said Friday.

It also denied a report in Friday’s edition of Newsday that said SAP AG’s global field operations head, Leo Apotheker, is the preferred CEO choice of two CA directors. Apotheker is not a candidate for the position, CA said.

“The (search) committee has not made a decision as to a recommended candidate and has not made any recommendation to the full board of directors,” CA said in a written statement. “The majority of the independent members of the board have had no substantive conversations on the selection of a permanent CEO, much less backing a specific candidate.”

CA has been without a permanent CEO since Sanjay Kumar stepped down in April because of pressure stemming from his management of CA while it carried out a $2.2 billion accounting scheme to inflate its quarterly sales reports. While CA’s board said at the time it lacked evidence of wrongdoing on Kumar’s part, he was indicted last week on charges of securities fraud and obstruction of justice. He pleaded not guilty.

Board member Kenneth Cron, who previously served as CEO of Vivendi Universal Games Inc. and publisher of industry magazine CRN, stepped in as interim CEO and has held the job for the past five months. Cron initially said he would not apply for the permanent position, but has since reversed course and added his name to the candidates list.