Palm Says 'Be' Has Arrived, but Its OS Chief Is Departing

Palm (PALM Quote) added a high-profile departure to the ranks of staff loss, bidding adieu to Alan Kessler, head of its Platform Solutions Group.

The handheld maker announced Kessler's departure at a crucial time for his group. Palm recently spun off the Platform Solutions Group, the stewards of Palm's popular operating system, into a wholly owned subsidiary. The new structure will direct more attention to the OS -- because the group has its own advisory committee led by AT&T Labs chief and techno-visionary David Nagel, and because it positions the group to spin off into a separate public company should the market return to its former vigor and find the OS an attractive offering.

Kessler has been with the company since 1999, after a 14-year career with once-parent company 3Com (COMS Quote). After spending over a year as Palm's chief operating officer, Kessler took the helm of the Platform Solutions Group this March. After just five months on the job, Kessler departs at a troubled time for Palm, but in the midst of a time of opportunity for the OS group.

Palm did not announce a replacement, and Kessler revealed no particular destination. During 2001 about 25% of Palm employees are also leaving the company in the form of layoffs. ...