Exec Changes Shake Up Key Vendors

Samsung CTO and the head of its mobile strategy, Omar Khan, is leaving the company after heading up Samsung's product strategy in the U.S. for the past three years. Samsung would not confirm Khan's next move, only noting he's not going to a competitor. But a letter from Khan sent to The Droid Guy suggests he's heading to Citigroup to lead its mobile solutions business.

Khan's responsibilities will be taken on by product marketing executive Tim Rowden and other team players.

Just days after HP's TouchPad tablet hit stores with lackluster reviews, the company is swapping the roles of two of its key wireless executives. Jon Rubinstein, former CEO of Palm Inc. and current head of HP's webOS initiatives, is moving to the Personal Systems Group (PSG), where he will lead product innovation. Stephen DeWitt, former head of the PSG, will become senior VP of HP's webOS, which has officially rid itself of the Palm moniker. (See HP TouchPad Success Hangs on Apps and HP Open to 'Special' webOS Partners.)

Apple is losing its patent chief lawyer, according to Reuters, which reports that Richard Lutton is leaving the company for unspecified reasons.

If Lutton is indeed leaving, he's checking out just as Apple is wrapped up in numerous lawsuits with competitors across the globe. (See Samsung Tries to Block Apple Sales in the US and Apple Sues Samsung for iCopying.)

But it's not like there isn't somebody else to pick up the slack. Reuters also notes that the wonderfully named BJ Watrous, formerly HP's chief of intellectual property and licensing, lists "VP and Chief IP Counsel" at Apple on his LinkedIn Corp. profile. Go find him -- he only has 105 connections as of today, so he could do with some requests.

Qualcomm named a new CTO Tuesday. Current SVP and 20-year Qualcomm veteran Matt Grob was appointed EVP and CTO, replacing Roberto Padovani, who will stay on the board as EVP in charge of research and development. According to the company, Grob will continue to focus on technologies such as augmented reality, peer-to-peer, wireless charging and processor and applications enhancements. (See Qualcomm's Snapdragon Spreads Its Wings.) — Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile