Former AT&T exec Roscitt to head ADC

(Telephony) ADC announced today that Richard Roscitt has been tapped to succeed William Cadogan as the company’s chairman and CEO.

Roscitt, 49, will leave his post as president of AT&T Business Services—a $30 billion unit employing 27,000 worldwide—to take over for Cadogan, who announced his retirement last May. Roscitt will become CEO on Feb. 15 and chairman of board following the annual shareholders’ meeting Feb. 27.

"I am pleased that the board has been able to select someone of Rick Roscitt’s outstanding background and expertise," Cadogan said. "Consistently throughout his career, Rick has distinguished himself as one who is capable of leading organizations to new levels of performance, excellence and profitability."

A 28-year veteran of AT&T, Roscitt played an integral part in developing the AT&T Solutions unit between 1995 and 1999, taking it from a small 12-employee group to a $4 billion business with 9000 employees.

Roscitt said that he plans to continue the international growth focus that the current ADC management team has identified as its next strategic initiative.

A spokesman for AT&T said that the company is not actively searching for someone to replace Roscitt in its AT&T Business Services division. David Dorman, who was named president of AT&T last November, will absorb Roscitt’s responsibilities and continue to oversee AT&T’s Business Services, Consumer Services, Network Services and Laboratories.

"We have a strong leadership team within AT&T Business Services and we feel that we won’t miss a beat there because we do have strong people who were under Rick," said an AT&T spokesman. "We think we still have a good core of leadership."

ADC also announced today that Lynn Davis, the current president of ADC’s Broadband Connectivity Group, will become president and COO effective Feb. 15.