Motorola names Bucher new VP for Mobile Devices unit

SCHAUMBURG -- Motorola Inc. today said that John R. Bucher has been appointed corporate vice president of strategy for Motorola's Mobile Devices and Home Business.

The company said in a release that Bucher will build upon plans under way to increase Motorola's smartphone market share and on Motorola's position as a portfolio supplier of broadband wireless, fiber and cable solutions and services to a global base of customers serving consumer and business markets.

He will report to Sanjay Jha, Motorola's co-chief executive officer and CEO of Mobile Devices and Home Business.

"His understanding of the key trends driving our markets and his multi-disciplinary financial, operational, technical and management experience will be instrumental to our strategic planning process as we chart our future course as an independent company," Jha said in a statement.

Bucher's 27 years of professional experience include 14 years as an equity research analyst focused exclusively on communication technology/services sectors, plus several years as a director-level manager with wireless carriers that are now part of Verizon Wireless.

Most recently, Bucher served for three years as a buy-side financial analyst for a leading equity-only investment management company, where his coverage responsibilities included the wireless, cable, wireline, optical and satellite equipment and services sectors. Prior to this, he served as a sell-side analyst and managing director for BMO Capital Markets, the U.S. equity research arm of the Bank of Montreal.

Also, Bucher worked for several years as an analyst for a private equity firm. He held several director-level management positions with Bell Atlantic/NYNEX Mobile and PrimeCo Personal Communications, which are both now part of Verizon Wireless. Bucher started his professional career with the United States Marine Corps, where he served as an officer for 11 years.