Motorola's Brown seeks new exec for handset business

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) CEO Greg Brown just can't make up his mind on trying to find a leader for the telecom company's troubled wireless handset division. First, he anointed himself as leader of that division, which needs a swift kick in the pants to return to profitability and deliver some knockout cellphones customers will lust after. Maybe he bit off more than he could chew.

At least Brown says that the company is "committed" to the handset division, after rumors of a company breakup swirled heavily in the air. Well, that may be true, as Brown is reportedly looking for a new executive to run the handset division. In fact, he stated that 80% of his time these days is being spent looking for that person as he aired in a few conversations at a recent Morgan Stanly Technology Conference.

Motorola's Brown said that he's looking outside the company as well for the new executive to lead the handset division of Motorola -- someone who will be tasked with leading the most public face of the company "on a
product-led recovery." That's an understatement -- this executive will need design and marketing finesse in addition to strong logistics and P&L experience at the very least to get some kick back into Motorola's cellphone existence while making a consistent profit. That's a tall order considering the state Motorola's handset division is in at the moment.