Wayne Inouye - he of the cheap box - has quit as Gateway's CEO, leaving the company with an interim chief.

Rather than opting to spend more time with his family, Inouye will "pursue other interests," Gateway said. Rick Snyder, a former president and COO at Gateway, will take over the CEO duties as the company searches for a full-time replacement. Inouye took the helm at Gateway following the March 2004 buy of low-cost PC maker eMachines where he served as CEO.

"On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Wayne for his efforts during the past two years to stabilize and build the company," Snyder said.

Gateway has struggled to return to profitability in recent years but did manage to post its first profit since 2000 last year. We're also told that Gateway has started to enjoy "an increase in brand awareness and continued positive reception for its products and services from customers and trade press alike." Which is nice.

Inouye will hang around for a bit, serving in an advisory role. Gateway hopes to tap a new CEO by the "late summer." ®