* Moloney set-box unit head leaving Motorola

* Says he was instrumental in combining home/cell units

* To replace retiring Technitrol CEO, James Papada

* Motorola shares closed at $7.01 on NYSE Friday

NEW YORK, Feb 22 - Motorola Inc (MOT.N) said on Monday that Dan Moloney, the head of its television set-top box business, has decided to leave the company to become chief executive officer of electronics components maker Technitrol Inc (TNL.N).

The announcement comes after Motorola revealed a plan to separate the company into two parts, one of which will combine the set-top box business and the mobile devices unit.

After the split-off, which is scheduled for the first quarter of next year, Motorola's Co-CEO Sanjay Jha will head the mobile devices and home unit.

Motorola said Moloney, who joined the company after its acquisition of General Instrument in 2000, played a role in the decision to combine the cellphone and set-top box business. Moloney had worked at General Instrument for 16 years.

Philadelphia-based Technitrol said Moloney would join at the end of March to replace James Papada, who is retiring. Technitrol produces parts for communications equipment. (Reporting by Sinead Carew, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

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