SuSE Linux names new chief exec
Published: 29 Nov 2001 12:55 GMT
Gerhard Burtscher, a longtime computer executive, will take over as chief executive of German Linux seller SuSE on Saturday as part of a reorganisation expected to bring profitability in 2002.
Burtscher will take over from Johannes Nussbickel, who was promoted from chief financial officer in June and will resume that position. Nussbickel had replaced longtime chief executive Roland Dyroff, who took charge of North American marketing.
Burtscher has been working in the computer industry for more than 20 years and has held sales and marketing executive positions at Texas Instruments, Digital Equipment, MIPS Technologies, Silicon Graphics and Siemens-Nixdorf, SuSE said in a statement.
"My challenge...is to transform each employee's great passion for technology into a powerful financial base, viable on a long-term basis," Burtscher said in a statement.
SuSE, like many Linux companies, has been struggling with the economic downturn and diminished hype around Linux, a clone of the Unix operating system that has gained widespread use. Linux has strong backing from IBM and has put pricing pressure on Microsoft but still isn't generally used on high-end servers.
SuSE laid off 30 people in February in the United States, and another 50 in Germany in June.
With the changes at the company, including reorganisation into five business units, SuSE expects profitability in 2002, Nussbickel said in a statement.
The five business units focus on products for technically skilled users; pre-configured product bundles for business customers; consulting, training and other services for large customers; products for government customers; and partnerships with other computing companies including Compaq Computer, IBM, Advanced Micro Devices, Oracle, SAP and SGI.
For all job and work-related news, or to search for a job and get information on training, go to ZDNet Jobs.
If you have something to say about work and employment issues say it here at the Jobs Forum
Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom. And read other letters.
Did you find this article useful?
27 out of 52 people found this useful
- Share this article:
