In the wake of Ed Zander's departure, confirmed earlier today, the management changes continue a pace at Sun Microsystems.

Stephen DeWitt, who joined with the Cobalt acquisition, has left the company. He was responsible for Sun's Linux strategy, and is the seventh senior executive to leave in the past week. Earlier today the trap door opened under Ed Zander, who was being measured for the noose by financial analysts on Monday; while last week CFO Michael Lehmann and systems VP John Shoemaker said they'd be leaving, too.

That's enough for an ice hockey team, plus one substitute.

DeWitt's fellow Cobalt co-founder Vivek Mehra assumes his responsibilities as VP and General Manager for the Cobalt group.

DeWitt made his own out through the smoke and rubble though:-

"It's Stephen's decision, and not related to the management reshuffle," said a spokesperson.

Tipped as a rising star by analysts, he was impressive in putting together the revised Linux strategy announced in the new year. A pocket Scott, we thought at the time.

We note that IDG, via InfoWorld, managed to pull off this little scoop. We clocked Ed on Monday, but really wish we hadn't been there...®

Related Stories

Bye, Ed - analysts pull the chain on Sun chief
Sun embraces x86 in Linux overture