Computer Sciences Fills New Position of President

Computer Sciences Corp. named Van B. Honeycutt to the new position of president and chief operating officer and elected him a director.

Analysts say Honeycutt, 48, becomes heir apparent to William R. Hoover, who has been chairman and chief executive of the El Segundo-based firm for 21 years.

Computer Sciences is one of the world’s largest companies that integrate computer systems manufactured by many vendors.

Honeycutt, who joined the company in 1975, has been a group president of CSC since 1987. Most recently, he led the company’s move to provide services to companies seeking to contract their computer operations to outside vendors.

Honeycutt previously held other positions in CSC, including president of its credit service business.

Steve McClellan, an analyst at Merrill Lynch, said: “With this title, Honeycutt is definitely the No. 2 person for the top job. However, I don’t think Hoover is anywhere near retirement, and a lot can happen in three or four years.”

Charlotte J. Walker, an analyst at Martin Simpson & Co., said: “I think Hoover, at 62, is looking to take a more narrow role at Computer Sciences. Van’s role over time will continue to expand. It’s the beginning of a changing of the guard.”