Palm Entrusts Pre Success to New CEO Rubinstein

Palm has appointed Jon Rubinstein, the man credited with delivering Apple's iPod and iMac. as its new CEO amd chairman.

He replaces Ed Colligan, who is stepping down after sixteen years leading the company.

The executive changes come just a few days after Palm launched its Pre smartphone.

Rubinstein, who joined Palm as Executive Chairman in October 2007 to help bring innovation back to the company, assumes his role as CEO on June 12.

In his time with Palm he has been instrumental in the development and launch of the Pre and webOS.

Palm said Colligan plans to take some time off, then join Elevation Partners, a major financial backer of Palm.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal is claiming that Verizon will end Sprint's exclusive deal with the Palm Pre in January 2010.