Nortel Networks is replacing its chief procurement officer a year and two months after appointing him, the company announced today.

John Haydon, who was named CPO in February 2006, recently became vice president and general manager of network partner solutions, global services, Nortel said.

Jeff Townley, who recently led the company’s Business Transformation Strategic Procurement team, will replace Haydon as CPO. Both Townley and Haydon have been Nortel employees for nearly a quarter century.

Based in Hong Kong, the CPO is responsible for managing Nortel’s supplier relationships and its $7 billion in annual purchases. The CPO reports directly to Joel Hackney, senior vice president of global operations and quality.

A Nortel spokesman told Telephony today that the change was Haydon’s decision and wouldn’t speculate on his motivation. His move--a lateral one, Nortel said--has him working more with Nortel partners such as Microsoft, IBM and Hewlett Packard rather than its suppliers. In a press release issued today, Hackney said Nortel “continues to strengthen [its] leadership team.”

The CPO replacement comes two months after the announcement that Nortel’s chief financial officer Peter Currie would resign after two years on the job. Currie’s resignation takes effect on April 30. The company is searching for a replacement.