McAfee President Resigns, Joins Websense As CEOMcAfee President Resigns, Joins Websense As CEO

McAfee President Gene Hodges has left the company to join Websense as president and CEO.

Websense said in a statement Tuesday that Hodges will be responsible for driving the Web filtering and security vendor’s future business strategies and day-to-day operations. Hodges is slated to be named to Websense’s board later this month.

McAfee didn’t immediately name a successor to Hodges. His team will work directly with McAfee Chairman and CEO George Samenuk, the company said in a statement.

Hodges joined McAfee in 1995. At the Santa Clara, Calif.-based security vendor, he held executive-level positions in areas such as product management, product marketing and business development.

At Websense, Hodges succeeds John Carrington, who served as the San Diego-based company’s CEO since May 1999.

“Although I was not seeking a change, the position as CEO of Websense was simply too compelling to pass up,” Hodges said in a statement. “Websense has all the attributes of a successful growth company--a large and expanding customer base, strong brand recognition, new products, unique technology, emerging markets, strong partnerships and a solid balance sheet,” he said.

Websense said it has granted Hodges non-plan options to buy 600,000 shares of Websense common stock.

Shares of Websense traded at $65.94, up $1.46, on Tuesday morning. Shares of McAfee traded at $28.75, down 24 cents.