BOISE -- It's a new era at Micron.
Today was the first time the new CEO Mark Durcan addressed investors since the former CEO, Steve Appleton, died in a plane crash last Friday.
His comments came during Micron's Winter Analyst Conference, as members of the management team talked to analysts, media, and investors, about the company going forward.
Mark Durcan is the first man to have the Micron CEO title, besides Appleton, in more than two decades.
He started today's conference in Arizona with a message.
"I know that many of you lost a good friend last week. I just want to assure that while we're all going to miss him as a company we're going to continue driving forward, and we know, that's the best way to honor Steve's legacy," said Durcan.
Durcan said that Friday's Winter Conference helped all the company leadership get back in the saddle again and start moving forward following Appleton's death one week ago.
Mark Adams was named the new president.
"There's very few people that had an impact on an industry, at any time, like Steve. Then to have that end so tragically and suddenly has been very emotional. But the type of personality he had has really installed a culture that's really one of perseverance and fighting on," said Adams.
And so the bulk of conference went on like any other, with members of the management team talking about how they're diversifying and how that will help them profit in the future.
But after the conference Adams gave us some insight on what this past week has been like at Micron.
"A very sad and devastating event in the community. I attended the funeral yesterday and it was a very emotional experience," he said.
Like Durcan, Adams also talked about Appleton's legacy.
"Anyone who knows Steve well knows Steve is the fiercest of all competitors and he would want us to rally on, and get going, and compete, as we have in this business, and go out and win. And I think that's the internal rallying call for us," said Adams.
It might be hard to imagine going on because Appleton was the face of Micron for so long.
Analysts have said, as big of a hole as Appleton leaves -- that Micron was not just one man. And the company will continue to succeed without him, though with a heavy heart for awhile.
