Symantec makes race equality breakthrough in Silicon Valley

Symantec has stolen a march on its rivals by appointing the first African-American CEO in Silicon Valley.

John Thompson, formally general manager of IBM Americas, replaces Gordon Eubanks, who left the anti-virus specialist to head an Internet start-up.

Thompson's new job hurls him into a raging debate about the under-representation of African-Americans in Silicon Valley. Just last month, Rev. Jesse Jackson opened an office in Silicon Valley to lobby companies which do not trade with - in his words - "black and brown" communities. His Rainbow Push Coalition plans to buy stock in the top 50 companies, to give it negotiating power.

Jackson's strategy will not impact Symantec, as the security software business ranks 51st in Silicon Valley. But Thompson told local newspaper San Jose Mercury News that he hoped to be a role model for other African-Americans with business ambitions.

Race issues will not, however, be his main focus. He told the paper: "It's impossible to forget that I am African-American, but I don't think about it when I do my job."