Tessera anounced Monday that CEO Hank Nothhaft was also taking over the Chairman slot.  Interesting to see them bucking the trend toward seperating the roles.  Hank's track record shows that he's a savvy executive, but these really are two different jobs.  There are good arguments on both sides of the split or not split question, but lately the split camp has been in the ascendant.  I wonder what is different about Tessera or the people involved that made them decide to move in the other direction. 

Of course, sometimes managing the board can be less work for a CEO if he or she is Chairman than if he or she is not.  One is not so much taking on a second role as formalizing what one is already doing and so making it easier.