Incoming Center chairman refuses post

Young Chang

COSTA MESA -- Controversy surrounding a lawsuit involving the Orange

County Performing Arts Center Board of Directors has led the incoming

chairman to decline the position.

Thomas T. Tierney has decided to remain on the board but not lead the

group because of his part in a lawsuit, unrelated to the Center, against

former board members Henry Samueli and Henry T. Nichols III, the

co-founders and executives of Broadcom.

Center officials announced Tierney’s decision Thursday.

The news follows last month’s resignation of major Center contributors

Samueli and Nicholas, who left to quiet speculation about the board after

the lawsuit became public.

Tierney declined the nomination for similar reasons Thursday, said

Roger Kirwan, the board’s present chairman.

“He felt that too much focus was on him and the issues that were not

relevant to the Center, and he wanted everyone to put their energy and

their thought processes back to continuing their work on the Center,”

Kirwan said.

Tierney will continue serving on the board and supporting the Center’s

programs and expansion project.

“It was a great honor to be named chairman designate, and I have no

doubt that serving as the chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts

Center would have been a fulfilling experience,” Tierney said in a

statement.

“My dedication and commitment to the Orange County Performing Arts

Center are stronger than ever,” he added.

The Feb. 13 lawsuit disputes Broadcom’s sales and earning results and

questions the company’s stock prices.

Kirwan said board members were relieved that Tierney decided to stay

with the Center.

“We’re very happy about that because he has been a very good board

member for a long time period,” Kirwan said.

The board will look for a new chairman designate and announce a

decision within a month.

“We have a strong leadership, and [Kirwan] stays on until July,” said

Center President Jerry Mandel. “We choose our chairman designate with

plenty of time in advance.”

When the Broadcom founders quit the board last month, company

spokesman Bill Blanning had cited Tierney’s incoming chairmanship as part

of the reason for their departure.

Both Nicholas and Samueli pledged to continue supporting the Center’s

expansion and capital campaign, as well as the Center’s artistic

endeavors in general.

Kirwan said that despite the absence of the Broadcom executives,

Tierney felt he cast too much of an unnecessary spotlight on a Center

dragged into a completely unrelated controversy.

* Young Chang writes features. She may be reached at (949) 574-4268 or

by e-mail at o7 young.chang@latimes.comf7 .