3Com Shuffles Sales, Marketing Management

The Marlborough, Mass.-based networking and VoIP vendor named Robert Dechant as senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing, replacing James Fieger as head of worldwide sales. 3Com also named Dan Beck to the newly created role of senior vice president of operations.

Both executives are former colleagues of 3Com President and CEO Scott Murray and will report directly to him.

In addition, 3Com Chief Marketing Officer Jim Freeze has left the company, CRN has learned. 3Com does not plan to fill the CMO role, but instead last month named Deborah Keeman as vice president of global marketing. Keeman, also a former colleague of Murray’s, will report to Dechant, according to a 3Com spokesman.

Dechant most recently was executive vice president of sales and marketing at Modus Media International until 2004, where he served under Murray, who was CEO. Dechant brings channel experience from previous roles at Stream International, another former Murray haunt, and IBM, the spokesman said.

Beck previously led North American operations at ModusLink, formerly Modus Media, which was sold to CMGI in 2004. In his new role at 3Com, he will have responsibility for everything from front-end logistics to back-end service and support, as well as other operational areas such as procurement.

The executive changes come about three months into Murray’s tenure at 3Com. He replaced Bruce Claflin in January.