The chief executive officer of a major satellite radio company has revealed that, despite discussions with Apple, the prospects of a version of the iPod capable of receiving radio are remote at present.

Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio, claimed in at a media conference in New York that he had been in discussion with Apple CEO Steve Jobs over the possibility of adding the ability to receive satellite broadcasts to the iPod. However, Karmazin claimed, the discussions had ended with no commitment from Apple.

"I've spoken to Steve Jobs," said Karmazin, "and [Apple's] current thinking is that they don't need to put a satellite radio in their box."

Read the full story: CEO rules out satellite radio iPod.

Washington-based XM Satellite Radio [XMSR] is searching for a new chief financial officer to succeed Heinz Stubblefield, 44, who left to take a similar position with AHL Services Inc. of Arlington, Va. Greg Cole, XM's treasurer, has been named acting CFO during the search.

Stubblefield, who joined XM in 1998, helped in early development and capital raising and expressed a desire to apply his skills to another early- stage company, said XM President & CEO Hugh Panero. XM is seeking a new CFO with extensive experience in high growth, public companies to match XM's evolving needs as it enters the its operating and market penetration phase, company officials said.

Russell Reynolds Associates is heading the search. At XM, Stubblefield raised over $1.6 billion since July 1999 through ten successful offerings, including an initial public stock offering (IPO) of $123 million in October 1999.