A big surprise overhaul of top management at Verisign: Stratton Sclavos, who has been with the company for 12 years as CEO, has resigned from all his position, including board, saying the company “has reached a point in its evolution where it can benefit from new leadership.” No other specific reasons for his leaving were given, but the company stressed that the SEC investigation of the company’s stock options program has found “no intentional wrongdoing” by any VeriSign executives, including Sclavos.

The company named William A. Roper Jr. as president and CEO. Roper had been a board member since November 2003, and most recently served as EVP of Science Applications International. In addition, Edward ueller was named chairman. He is the former head of specialty retailer Williams-Sonoma and has been a director of VeriSign since March 2005. More details in release.