Software giant McAfee has named Mark Cochran as its new general counsel, it was announced last night (10 September).

Cochran joins the security technology company from tech market rival Hyperion, where he had been general counsel and company secretary since 2005.

Cochran has also previously been general counsel of fellow software company Brocade Communications Systems and at web-service provider AvantGo.

He replaces former McAfee general counsel Kent Roberts, who was charged with backdating-related fraud in March this year. Roberts was fired in May 2006 after an internal probe indicated that he played an active part in irregular accounting practices at the company.

In a statement, Cochran said: "McAfee is… part of a thriving market [and] I look forward to working with the company's leadership team to shape the company's next phase of growth."

McAfee is one of the world's largest antivirus software developers and manufacturers, boasting annual revenues of $1bn (£493m) and more than 3,000 employees globally.