Internet security vendor McAfee has fired general counsel Kent Roberts for “improper” conduct relating to the granting of employee stock options.
McAfee, of Santa Clara, Calif., said an internal review of employee stock option grants turned up one episode involving Roberts in 2000 that was improper. No additional details were offered.
The company said an audit committee would continue the review of other option granting practices. An independent counsel has been retained to assist.
McAfee said it has notified staff of both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department on the issue.
Roberts, who joined McAfee when the company acquired Saber Software, was an executive vice president at the time of his dismissal.
During his tenure, he managed all legal matters for McAfee. In addition, he was responsible for legal activity with mergers and acquisitions, as well as all intellectual property rights.
The dismissal comes four months after McAfee president Gene Hodges suddenly resigned to take the reins of access control vendor Websense.
Since then, McAfee has reshaped its management team with the hiring of George Heron as chief scientist and John Viega as chief security architect.
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