VeriSign Tabs Co-Founder As Interim CEO

July 3, 2008 5:19 p.m. EST

Mountain View, CA (AHN) - VeriSign Inc. announced Thursday its board elected Jim Bidzos, the company's co-founder, as executive chairmen and chief executive officer on an interim basis.

The move comes after William A. Roper resigned from VeriSign and its board on June 30. Roper had been president and CEO for just over a year.

According to the Associated Press, VeriSign said in a statement its board "feels a sense of urgency to better position the company to take advantage of not only the growth opportunities in the core businesses, but to develop a strategic growth plan to identify new compelling opportunities that align with our company's core competencies and are an ideal fit under the VeriSign brand."

VeriSign also announced Thursday they expect second quarter revenue will meet or top analysts' estimates.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expect revenue of $231.4 million.

Shares of VeriSign (VRSN) closed 1.3 percent lower on Thursday.