Former SuSE Linux President Resigns From NovellFormer SuSE Linux President Resigns From Novell

Former SuSE Linux Inc. president Richard Seibt resigned Monday from his post at Novell, which acquired SuSE in January 2004. Seibt joined Novell as president of its Europe, Middle East, and Africa region following the $210 million acquisition.

Seibt's resignation follows Novell's appointment last week of Ron Hovsepian as president of worldwide field operations. In his new position, Hovsepian, who had been Seibt's peer for the North America region, oversees field marketing and sales, channel sales and marketing, consulting, services, and Novell's alliance program worldwide. Hovsepian will continue to have regional president responsibilities for North America and will assume Seibt's role in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Novell created the new worldwide president position to oversee all regional presidents as a way to communicate a consistent message globally, a Novell spokesman says, adding that Hovsepian was chosen for the position because of sales model changes he implemented in North America to reduce conflicts over territories and channels.

For Novell's most recent fiscal quarter, ended Jan. 31, the North America region led all others in revenue, with $123.8 million, up from $115.8 million for the first quarter of 2004. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, under Seibt's guidance, was next with $95.6 million for the quarter, up from $87.9 million for the first quarter of 2004. Novell will issue a report on May 25 for its second fiscal 2005 quarter.