Avaya Hires Away NCR Financial Chief Massetti

NCR Corp.'s (NCR) Chief Financial Office Anthony Massetti will leave the company later this month to take on the same role at privately held Avaya Inc.

The appointment comes at a key time at Avaya, which is wrangling with Canadian regulators over its planned $915 million buy of Nortel Corp.'s (NRTLQ) enterprise solutions division.

Massetti will leave technology company NCR on Oct. 23 for his new appointment with Avaya on Oct. 26. He will be replaced at NCR by interim Chief Financial Officer Robert Fishman. Fishman, the company's corporate controller, already served as interim chief financial officer for nine months ended January 2008.

NCR said Massetti will continue as its chief financial officer through its third-quarter earnings announcement. The company is in the process of seeking a replacement, saying it was considering both internal and external candidates.

Shares of NCR were inactive after closing the regular session down 1% at $13.53. Avaya, which makes communication equipment and software to integrate voice and data services, was taken private by Silver Lake Partners and TPG Capital for $8.2 billion in 2007.

-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480; [e-mail]