Novell Shuffles Executive Deck

Novell Shuffles Executive Deck

Written By
Paula Musich
Paula Musich
Mar 5, 2002
2 minute read
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Novell continued to shuffle its executive deck today with the departure of three more executives.

The move, one day after CTO Carl Ledbetter was named Senior Vice President for Engineering/Research and Development, is part of an ongoing executive restructuring taking place at Novell, officials said.

Separately, Novell officials acknowledged that Chairman and CEO Jack Messman was hospitalized in Provo for a bleeding ulcer and partial blockage in heart arteries.

Novell, of Orem, Utah, is consolidating responsibility for engineering, R&D and product management under Ledbetter, who will also keep his CTO title.

Leaving is Paul Smart, vice president and general manager of Net Directory Services. Also out is Craig Miller, vice president and general manager, Net Management Group. Both are at least eight-year veterans at Novell, with Smart coming onboard as part of the merger with WordPerfect Corp. in June 1994.

Former Cambridge Technology Partners exective Marty Deise also leaves his today post as senior vice president, solutions. He was responsible for Novells go-to-market strategy for solutions along with solutions development and implementation, according to officials.

Last week Novell also announced the departure of Chief Operating Officer Stuart Nelson.

Ledbetter, now with products recentralized in his bailiwick, reports to Chris Stone. Stone late last month was named Vice Chairman in the Office of CEO of Novell.

Stone, a former Novell executive who left to found Web services software firm Tilion Inc., takes over responsibilities for engineering, marketing, product management, alliances and consulting.

As yet undecided in the shuffle is how the new executive team will change the organization.

Messman is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days. It is unclear when he will return to work. Novell officials dont expect that Messmans health will have an impact on the company, and a Novell spokesman said his health issues had no bearing on the executive shakeup.

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