Western Digital, a leader in data infrastructure, is planning to split its flash memory business from its hard-drive operations. The restructuring comes on the heels of the company’s $19 billion purchase of SanDisk in 2016. This move is expected to be finalized in the second half of this year.
Western Digital’s CEO, David Goeckeler, confirmed this decision on the company’s official website. The company decided on the restructuring this past October, which some believe is due to Western Digital’s failed initiative to acquire assets from Kioxia, a solid-state memory producer. Goeckeler shared that they are actively separating client documentation between the two future independent entities and are working towards reforming the organizational structure and business processes in all 18 countries of operation. The company is also preparing to submit necessary documents to government regulators in those regions, including the United States.
The candidate to head the new entity, which will continue to manufacture hard-drives post-Western Digital’s separation, has been selected. Current Executive Vice President of Global Operations, Irving Tan, who has been serving in this capacity since February 2020, will assume the role of CEO. Other executive appointments will be announced closer to the company’s restructuring completion date.
