Symantec Splits Top Positions …

Symantec Corp. has split the roles of chairman of the board and CEO.

The board of directors has elected director  Dan Schulman to the position of non-executive chairman while  Steve Bennett remains president and CEO.

"I’m excited about Symantec’s prospects and for the opportunity to contribute to its continued success," said Schulman. "As CEO, Steve has a vision for where he wants to take the company and help it reach its fullest potential. I look forward to working with him, the board, and everyone at Symantec to help transform the company to deliver greater value for employees, customers and shareholders."

"The board and I agree that having an independent director serve as the non executive chairman is in the best interests of our shareholders," said Bennett. "Separating the positions of chairman and CEO allows me to focus on executing the company’s strategic plan and managing the company’s operations and performance. It enhances the board’s independent oversight of the company’s senior management team and enables better communications and relations between the board, the CEO and other senior management segments of the company."

Schulman has been a member of Symantec’s board of directors since March 2000. Since August 2010, he has been president of American Express‘ Enterprise Growth group. Previously, he served as president of Sprint‘s PrePaid Group and CEO of Virgin Mobile USA, until its acquisition by Sprint in the Fall of 2009.

From May 2000 until May 2001, Schulman was president and CEO of priceline.com, after serving as president and COO from July 1999. Previously, he was president of the AT&T Consumer Markets Division of AT&T Corp., a telecommunications services company, and was appointed to the AT&T Operations Group, the company’s most senior executive body.

Schulman also serves on the board of directors of Flextronics.

He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Middlebury College, and a master’s degree in business administration, majoring in Finance, from New York University.

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