Verisign CFO Brian Robins Leaving Company to Pursue New Opportunities
Following news in early August that VeriSign CEO Mark McLaughlin would be leaving the company to become CEO at Palo Alto Networks, the company today finds itself faced with another key executive walking out the door. VeriSign today said that Executive Vice President and CFO, Brian Robins, will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.
Robins’ last day at the company will be Sept. 30, 2011. Mark McLaughlin’s last day at VeriSign was August 25th 2011, resulting in the company losing two key leaders over a period of about a month.
“This decision was a very difficult one for me to make. Verisign has an excellent team, a strong business model and has been executing on all its objectives in the first half of 2011,” said Brian Robins. “I wish the best for my Verisign colleagues.”
Both Bidzos and Robins said the company is reaffirming its guidance for 2011 and that today’s news was not the result of any matters which, to the company’s knowledge, would have an adverse impact on the integrity of the company’s financial statements or the results of its operations.
VeriSign shares fell as low as $29.17 in after market hours after closing at $33.91 before the annoucenment.
Some rumors have been speading that the company may be a takeover target or putting itself up for sale. According to a report from Bloomberg, “The stock jumped 13 percent this week after the company canceled appearances at two investment conferences, one by Robins, fueling speculation that VeriSign was in talks to be acquired.”
Verisign said that it plans to name an interim chief financial officer soon.