HICKORY, N.C. (AP) – CommScope Inc., a network infrastructure company, said Thursday it named Eddie Edwards president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1.

Edwards, 60, succeeds Brian Garrett, who will retire later in 2010 after a 30-year career with the company . Until then, Garrett will advise on several special projects within CommScope.

Besides a number of executive roles, Edwards has been serving CommScope as executive vice president of business development, a position held since 2005.

In the third quarter, CommScope's profit plunged by 46 percent due to weaker spending and the slowdown in home and business construction. Still, the profit beat Wall Street's forecasts, while sales fell well short.

CommScope said it expects revenue of $740 million to $790 million in the fourth quarter, which is in the range of analysts' expectations.

Shares of CommScope rose 14 cents to $29.01 in morning trading.