Jabil Splits Consumer, EMS Operations

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Jabil Circuit Inc.'s Board of Directors approved the company's plan to establish consumer electronics and EMS divisions, focused on design, time-to-market, and other concerns of each sector. The divisions will begin separate operations September 1, 2007.

The change involves grouping business units with similar needs into semi-autonomous divisions with "ownership and accountability for design, operations, supply chain, and delivery," said Timothy J. Main, Jabil president and CEO. The consumer division will address mobility and cost pressures for computing, television, and mobile products through design and vertically integrated supply-chain offerings. The EMS division will provide supply-chain solutions for outsourcing OEMs in traditional and emerging industry sectors.

Jabil's consumer electronics division will absorb certain existing and planned manufacturing operations, design resources, and supply-chain management assets within the company. John P. Lovato will assume the role of executive vice president and CEO, consumer division. Lovato has worked at Jabil for 17 years.

The EMS division will group traditional networking, computing, storage, and telecommunications and emerging automotive, medical, industrial, instrumentation, defense, and aerospace assembly businesses into one dedicated group. Sector-specific design, manufacturing, fulfillment, and supply-chain solutions will serve industries that typically sell directly into institutions and businesses. William D. Muir, a 15-year Jabil veteran, will become executive vice president and CEO, EMS. Cost-effective design, manufacturing, and delivery will be core elements of the division.