FRAMINGHAM (12/15/2003) - John Sidgmore, the Internet pioneer and former WorldCom Inc. executive who steered the company as it emerged from a multi-billion-dollar accounting scandal, died of cancer last week at the age of 52. Sidgmore became chairman and CEO of WorldCom, now known as MCI, after the previous CEO Bernard Ebbers resigned in April of last year amid scrutiny of his involvement in the company's mounting financial woes. Sidgmore led the company as it filed for bankruptcy. He then aided the company in a search for his replacement, and in November of last year was succeeded as chairman and CEO by former Hewlett-Packard Co. President Michael Capellas. Before heading the telecom giant, Sidgmore was CEO of ISP UUNET Technologies Inc.
[]