Tom Leighton to succeed Paul Sagan as Akamai chief

BANGALORE, INDIA: Akamai Technologies announced that the company's board of directors has elected company co-founder and chief scientist Tom Leighton to become CEO of Akamai, effective January 1, 2013.

Leighton will succeed Paul Sagan who announced earlier this year that he intended to step down as chief executive by the end of 2013.

Leighton and Sagan will remain Akamai directors, and Sagan will become a senior advisor to the company, working with Leighton on business strategy and to ensure a smooth management transition.

Since co-founding Akamai in 1998, Leighton has been responsible for Akamai's technology vision and has been one of the principal architects of the company's strategic direction while serving as chief scientist, as a member of Akamai's senior executive team, and on the board.

Akamai also announced two executive-level promotions. Effective January 1, 2013, Robert (Bob) Hughes will become president, Worldwide Operations, and Rick McConnell will become president, Products and Development. Both are currently Akamai executive vice presidents and will report to the company's new CEO, Tom Leighton.