Western Digital to Split Connex Into Two Units

Connex Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lake Forest hard disk drive maker Western Digital Corp., said Monday it is breaking into two units to better focus on their respective markets.

Connex will continue to develop network-attached storage modules; the new company, SANavigator Inc., will focus on software that manages storage networks. The companies, both based in San Jose, have a total of about 150 employees. SANavigator will be adding additional sales and marketing staff, Connex spokeswoman Mary Hilla said.

SANavigator Inc. will be headed by Robert Wright, who previously led the software engineering unit at Connex. Michael Williams is chief executive of Connex.

Western Digital bought Connex in January 1999.