Executive decision: McCaw bumps Twyver from top spot at Teledesic

Telecommunications entrepreneur Craig McCaw once again has turned to members of his trusted inner circle to help ensure the successful launch of one of his projects. The twist is that this time he also has given himself a job.

Last week Teledesic, a broadband satellite endeavor backed by McCaw and Microsoft's Bill Gates, announced that McCaw would assume the role of CEO. Teledesic's existing CEO, former Northern Telecom executive David Twyver, has been assigned to an executive committee.

The stabilization of other start-ups has freed McCaw to put his company-building skills back to work, said Bob Ratliffe, vice president of McCaw's Eagle River holding company. McCaw is wont to make unexpected changes until a company is on solid footing, he added.

It's his style as a chess player to see if we have the right resources in the right positions," Ratliffe said. "Craig feels strongly that you have to have the most entrepreneurial energy put toward building the business."

Steve Hooper, who recently became chairman of McCaw's Nextlink competitive local exchange carrier, will retain that position and also help McCaw run Teledesic as co-CEO. Before joining Nextlink, Hooper was president and CEO of McCaw-built AT&T Wireless Services. As a long-time McCaw affiliate, Hooper is often dispatched to act as point man on new projects.

"Certainly, Hooper has been involved with McCaw for years, and Craig trusts him," said David Yedwab, vice president of the Eastern Management Group consultancy. "Hooper as an operational manager and McCaw as the brains and money makes a lot of sense."

Another analyst speculated that the move could have been driven by the need for more visibility in the face of competition.

"With Iridium rolling out and Globalstar making progress, the Teledesic people are thinking they need to accelerate this and get more visibility," said Ira Brodsky, president of Datacomm Research.

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