Green Resigns from Sun

As the dust settles after last weeks news of Sun Microsystems Inc. settling its differences with Microsoft Corp., some of the fallout includes pro-Sun, pro-Java personalities such as Rich Green, Suns vice president of developer platforms.

Green has resigned from Sun as of last week. However, a Sun spokesperson said Green actually tendered his resignation "long before last week. It was coincidental timing, not related timing." This comment refutes other sources who said Green left Sun in protest over the Microsoft deal.

However, sources close to the negotiations said Green began talking to a startup founded by a former Sun colleague two months ago and later decided that after 14 years at Sun it was indeed time to make a change. Meanwhile, Jonathan Schwartz, Suns new president and chief operating officer, spoke to both Green and John Loiacono about the possibility of becoming his successor as head of software for Sun, sources said. But Green already had submitted his resignation, yet was continuing to work at Sun "because he felt he couldnt make a change until this last issue [Microsoft] was resolved," a source said.

In fact, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said Green played an essential role in Suns negotiations with Microsoft to come to last weeks 10-year, $1.6 billion deal.

Green testified in both the non-settling states antitrust case against Microsoft and in Suns private antitrust case against the software giant. Green spoke on Suns behalf about Microsofts monopolistic practices to federal judges in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore courtrooms.

In addition, Green was the honcho for Suns ambitious Project Rave, now known as Java Studio Creator, Suns easy-to-use Java tool that the company said brings the simplicity of Visual Basic to Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) development. Green demonstrated the tool at last years JavaOne conference and has continued to promote its capabilities ever since, even noting that with the new tool Sun could possibly grow the number of Java developers to 10 million.

Meanwhile, Sun would not disclose where Green was going, but said the company has held the position "for quite a while" for him. Said one source: "He didnt want to leave until the Microsoft deal was done."

Sun officials said in the short term, Chris Atwood, director of engineering for Java tools, will act in the leadership role for the Java developer platform and tools group.

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