Braun resigns as Aviat CEO

Harald Braun has resigned as CEO of Aviat Networks (NASDAQ:AVNW), the microwave backhaul vendor he sought to turn into an end-to-end wireless vendor. In a statement, Aviat did not disclose a reason for Braun’s departure, saying only that former CEO Chuck Kissner would take over as the company’s chief executive.

Braun, the former head of Siemens Communications, took over then Harris Stratex Networks in 2008 and immediately began putting his mark on the company. Braun consolidated an acquisition of a WiMax equipment vendor that was already in the works with new plans to build 4G gateways, building out the specialty backhaul vendor’s portfolio in both the access and core areas. Last year, he moved Harris Stratex in the network managed services business, landing Open Range Communications as the vendor’s first outsourcing customer. And earlier this year Braun led the company to change its name to Aviat to reflect its new role as an end-to-end vendor for operators in rural and emerging markets, while continuing to maintain its primary backhaul business among the Tier 1 global operators.

The radio backhaul industry continues to aggressively expand, driven by operators adding transport capacity to their increasingly crowded 3G networks while preparing for the eventual jump to 4G mobile broadband networks. Recently Infonetics Research found that mobile backhaul spending jumped 21% to $7.2 billion globally and predicted it would grow to $10.4 billion by 2014. While 70% of that spend would go to microwave and other radio backhaul vendors, Infonetics also found a very crowded marketplace with no single vendor accounting for more than 20% of the market. In the first quarter NEC surpassed Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) as the leader in microwave equipment sales, but according to Infonetics multiple vendors were close behind.

Apart from its deals for Telsima WiMax base stations in India and its network outsourcing deal in the U.S., Aviat’s new businesses remained relatively quiet after the reorganization, though in recent interviews Braun hinted at future contracts in the works related to its new product lines. In Aviat’s statement the company made no comment on his departure except to say Braun had resigned as president and CEO. A company spokeswoman, however, said that the company’s new strategic direction won’t necessarily be scrapped with Braun’s departure.

“We are not making any changes to our strategy at the current time,” said Cynthia Johnson, director of corporate communications for Aviat.

Kissner has a long tenure with the company spanning many reorganizations, acquisitions and name changes. Kissner guided then DMC Stratex through multiple economic downturns throughout the 1990s and over the last decade. He led Stratex’s unsuccessful effort to acquire Western Multiplex and successful effort to buy Plessy Broadband. In 2006 Kissner stepped down as CEO after the merger or Harris Corp.’s Microwave Division and Stratex Networks but remained chairman of the board.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to lead Aviat Networks and rebuild shareholder value," Kissner said in Aviat’s statement. "We have an excellent market opportunity, a strong customer base, great technology and talented employees. Our challenges are to optimize our business model, accelerate innovation and improve the speed and effectiveness of our initiatives. The board and I sincerely thank Harald Braun for his contributions and leadership over the last two-plus years. Harald was a strong force in guiding the company through its post-merger transition, expanding its customer focus and leading its emergence under the new identity of Aviat Networks."