Selwyn set to step aside
By SUSAN TAYLOR, Ottawa Sun
CrossKeys Systems Corp. founder John Selwyn will hand over
the controls of his company to SHL Systemhouse executive Ian
McLaren.
Selwyn said he approached CrossKeys' board of directors nine
months ago to ask them to find another CEO and president who
could better push the company's expansion.
"The philosophy I have propagated at CrossKeys is to do what's
right for the company," he said. "I don't believe, in short, that I
have the right skills or personality to tackle this as aggressively as
it needs to be tackled."
CrossKeys, which develops network management software,
must expand its sales channels and advance its technology,
Selwyn said. The company warned in February it faced a weaker
performance in the upcoming fourth and first quarters as channel
partner revenue and sales in Asia slowed.
McLaren leaves his post as president of Canadian, U.K. and
international operations for SHL in late May, after the company's
acquisition by EDS Canada is expected to be complete. EDS
Canada CEO Sheelagh Whittaker will fill McLaren's post at
SHL.
"I'm honoured that he would relocate here," said Selwyn, who
remains on CrossKeys' board of directors and will work with
McLaren during the transition. "He is a natural leader."
Selwyn, a Carleton University graduate and former engineer with
Gandalf and Domus Software, was approached by Newbridge
CEO Terry Matthews in 1992 to run CrossKeys. Selwyn led the
firm from a handful of founders to a company with annual revenue
of more than $38 million and more than 300 staff today.
"There are aspects that are bittersweet," said Selwyn, who plans
to take off time to spend with his family. "I care very deeply for
the people at CrossKeys."
CrossKeys' shares rose 30cents on the TSE yesterday to close
at $6.70. |
