PLANO, Texas -- Ericsson Inc. (NASDAQ: ERICY - News) today announced two appointments to its North American executive management team, infusing more than 35 years of wireless carrier and telecommunications services expertise into two critical business areas, Global Services and Account Management for AT&T Wireless. "Services, which represented 24% of Ericsson's Systems revenues in the first quarter of this year, are playing an increasingly critical role in our customer relationships. Gowton Achaibar brings a vital combination of vendor, wireless operator and telecom services skills and experience to our Services business in North America, and I look forward to working with Gowton to drive our continued success in this strategically important area," said Angel Ruiz, president and CEO of Ericsson Inc. "As important to Ericsson's success is our ability to understand - and support - our customers' evolving business opportunities as we help them migrate to the next generation of wireless services. Toby Seay, who joins us from AT&T Wireless and brings with him 16 years of experience in wireless carrier operations, will bring valuable insight and focus not only to our AT&T account team, but also to our entire operation," continued Ruiz. Gowton Achaibar, who most recently served as executive vice president of Business Development at AFL Telecommunications, a wireless network deployment services company, will join Ericsson as vice president and general manager, Global Services North America, effective today. Toby Seay, who will join Ericsson as executive vice president and general manager, AT&T and Affiliates Account, also effective today, comes to Ericsson from AT&T Wireless, where he served most recently as vice president of Field Operations. Ericsson AB