Outgoing Symantec CEO eyed for Commerce post

John W. Thompson, the outgoing chief executive of Symantec Corp., a network-security company, has emerged as a leading contender to be secretary of the Department of Commerce, a move that would give the high-tech industry a major voice in the Obama administration.

Over the past decade, Thompson, who is black, led the Cupertino, Calif.-based company from a small software maker to the top provider of antivirus and security programs, known for its Norton brand of products.