Sophos appoints new CEO

Sophos has elevated chief operating officer Steve Munford to the post of chief executive officer, effective immediately, the British antivirus company said. Munford replaces Sophos' cofounders and former joint chief executive officers, Jan Hruska and Peter Lammer, who will remain with the company as board members.

The new appointee, who held the post of COO for the past nine months, joined Sophos in 2003 following its acquisition of antispam specialist ActiveState. He shifted from president of ActiveState to president of Sophos North America once the transaction was completed, a position he held until being appointed COO.

Iain Ferguson of ZDNet Australia reported from Sydney.