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Motorola names new CFO amid possible handset division sale

Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT), which can't seem to make up its mind regarding its floundering wireless handset division, has given yet another sign that it may be considering some kind of equity move with it. The Illinois-based telecom company has hired private-equity executive Paul Liska as its new CFO. Liska will have responsibility for hoarding as much cash for the wireless giant as possible, but will also probably take a look under the hood in regards to what needs to be done about the company's wireless handset business so that it can be making consistent profits again.

Here's tip number one to Liska: all the financial moves in the world won't help a thing unless Motorola can make wireless products customers want -- and hopefully, desire. That's not happening right now. Korean rivals Samsung and LG Electronics are churning out sexy handset designs with multiple wireless carriers left and right. Motorola? Not so much. The Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone has put the hurt on Motorola just that much more.

So, where does that leave Liska? Even though Motorola CEO Greg Brown said that the company was committed to its handset division, that could be interpreted as this: "we are committed to looking at every option to ensure our handset division remains part of the company or is spun off into a separate entity that would shield Motorola shareholders from its dastardly performance." I'm not putting words into anyone's mouth here, but Brown's "committed" statement could mean several different things. It will be up to Liska to make a map of those things and drive the best decision into the boardroom for the company. Maybe he'll get chummy with longtime Motorola pundit Carl Icahn as well.

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Last updated: May 17, 2008: 10:36 AM

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