VeriSign has named William A. Roper Jr. president and chief executive officer following the resignation of former CEO Stratton D. Sclavos.
“VeriSign is a highly respected company with an attractive business model and leading positions in growing markets,” Roper said in a statement. “I look forward to working with VeriSign’s management team to capitalize on the company’s growth opportunities while ensuring the strongest possible emphasis on managerial discipline and execution.”
Roper has served as a director of Mountain View, Calif.-based VeriSign since 2003. He most recently served as executive vice president of Science Applications International. He also served as SAIC’s chief financial officer from 1990 to 2000 and played a leadership role in Network Solutions from the time it was acquired by SAIC in 1995 to when it was merged into VeriSign in 2000, VeriSign officials said.
VeriSign officials gave no public reason for Sclavos departure. However, officials did announce that a review of the company’s historical stock option grant practices by an ad hoc group composed of VeriSign’s Board of Directors is largely complete and has found no wrongdoing by any current member of senior management, including Sclavos.
The board of directors also elected Edward A. Mueller, who joined the board in 2005, as chairman.
“We would like to thank Stratton Sclavos for all he has accomplished for VeriSign,” Mueller said in a statement. “Over the last 12 years, he helped establish VeriSign as a global corporation that millions of customers and businesses rely upon everyday as they interact on the world’s voice and data networks. We wish him continued success in the future.”
