Splinterwill be replaced as chief executive and president by Gary Dickerson, formerlythe chief executive of Varian Semiconductor, which was acquired by AppliedMaterials in 2011.
Althoughthe announcement came on the back of a modestly disappointing set of quarterlyresults, the company’s decision to transition Splinter, 62, to a new role asexecutive chairman suggests the decision was made chiefly on the basis ofsuccession planning.
