Storage and data management firm NetApp announced better-than-expected financials yesterday, and appointed current president and chief operating officer Tom Georgens as its new chief executive.

Georgens has been a member of the NetApp board since February 2008, having joined the firm in October 2005 as executive vice president and general manager of enterprise storage systems.

He will replace outgoing chief executive Dan Warmenhoven, who had led the company for 15 years, most recently during the firm's unsuccessful and acrimonious battle with rival EMC to acquire de-duplication vendor Data Domain.

Warmenhoven will continue to serve as chairman, and takes on the role of executive chairman, a newly created position to help build and expand strategic relationships, according to NetApp.

"Looking back, I am very proud that NetApp has achieved a leadership position in the storage market, and now look forward to supporting Tom as he takes the company through the next stages of growth in a new era for the IT industry," said Warmenhoven.

The firm reported quarterly net profits of $51.7m (£31.3m), or 15 cents per share, compared to $34.7m (£21m), or 10 cents per share, a year earlier.