The global sales chief of Sun Microsystems Inc. resigned Monday as the slumping server and software maker revealed plans to restructure its sales force to focus more on emerging markets. The Santa Clara-based company said that Donald Grantham, Sun's executive vice president of global sales and services, resigned after nine years with the company. Sun did not give a reason for Grantham's departure.

He was being replaced by Peter Ryan, who has been with Sun for two years and most recently was responsible for the company's Europe, Middle East and Africa markets.

Grantham's resignation came as Sun announced the creation of a single sales division for emerging markets in China, India, Latin America and southern and eastern Europe.

Sun has been hit especially hard by the weakening U.S. economy and what some analysts describe as a questionable strategy of essentially giving away its open-source Solaris operating system and other software in hopes of driving higher sales of its servers and support services.

Sun's $34 million loss in the latest quarter surprised investors after had posted five straight profitable quarters.

The company's stock closed Monday down a penny to $12.94 before the news was announced. Sun's shares have fallen steadily since the company executed a 1-for-4 reverse stock split in November, which was viewed as a sign of financial distress.

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