The chief financial officer of Durham LED lighting company Cree has resigned.

John Kurtzweil's resignation took effect Monday, the company said in an announcement.

Kurtzweil, who plans to continue as a Cree employee until June 15 to assist with the transition, is leaving to take the same job with Extreme Networks. California-based Extreme provides Ethernet switches for computer and mobile networks and generated $189.3 million in sales for the first nine months of its current fiscal year, making it significantly smaller than Cree.

"The decision to leave Cree was a very difficult one for me as the past six years have been personally rewarding," Kurtzweil said in a statement.  "At this point in my career, however, I decided to move to Extreme Networks, a smaller firm where I can have a more hands-on role in growing the business."

Analyst Daniel Amir of Lazard Capital Markets wrote in a research note that he views the resignation as "slightly negative given that Kurtzweil was respected on the Street. The departure seems to show that Cree does not have a clear succession plan."

Cree's struggles in China aren't over.

The Durham company, one of the Triangle's most successful technology ventures, reported this morning that its financial results for the quarter that ends March 27 will be weaker than expected.

Cree blamed slower sales of its LED lighting products and "more aggressive pricing." In January, the company warned of declining demand for LEDs used in street lights in China.

Cree will hold a dedication ceremony tomorrow for the house it helped build in Durham.

It's the first home from a partnership between the Durham-based LED lighting company and Habitat for Humanity. It's also the first Habitat house with LED lights in every fixture.

Dozens of Cree employees helped build it, partly as a philanthropic effort, and partly to demonstrate its LED lights, which last longer and are more energy efficient than traditional lights, reducing electricity bills.

The three-bedroom, 1,150-square-foot house is now home to the Rahlan-Ksor family, originally from Vietnam. Prior to moving in, the family of four lived in a one-bedroom apartment. 

Cree scored a coup close to home this week.

The city of Durham announced it will join Cree's LED City program, and add 573 LED lighting fixtures in three parking garages.

Cree started the program in early 2007 with Raleigh as the first participant. The program has expanded to cities across the country and around the world.

“Durham has been Cree’s home for more than 20 years, and we’re thrilled our hometown is joining municipalities" elsewhere in installing LEDs, said Neal Hunter, president of Cree LED Lighting, in a prepared statement. Hunter helped found Cree at N.C. State University 23 years ago.