Andreessen decides to take some R&R

After four years and seven months with the company he cofounded, Marc Andreessen is taking a sabbatical from Netscape Communications.

Netscape employees are entitled to eight weeks of paid time off after serving four years. Andreessen, executive vice president of the company's enterprise software division and considered a Web pioneer for his work on the Mosaic browser in 1993, will use the time to "take a break and relax," said company spokesperson Patti Pierson.

In Andreessen's absence, senior vice president of marketing Lori Mirek; senior vice president and general manager of server products division John Paul; and senior vice president and general manager of applications product division Steve Savignano will report to Netscape's chief executive, Jim Barksdale.

The sabbatical is not Andreessen's first vacation, as previously reported, though it will be his longest absence from Netscape to date.

Andreessen will return to work January 4.