I didn't either Rich, but here's some additional background data I had laying around FWIW.
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Schmidt holds town
meetings at Novell to
outline product strategies
By Lisa Wirthman
June 18, 1997 7:07 AM PDT
PC Week Online
With many of the tough financial decisions
behind him, Novell Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt
turned his attention this week to the company's
most crucial assets: its products.
In town meetings with employees in San Jose,
Calif., yesterday and Orem, Utah, today,
Schmidt addressed how recent restructuring
moves, including laying off 18 percent of the
work force, will affect the company's product
focus going forward, said sources familiar with
the discussions.
Schmidt confirmed Novell's commitment to its
core IntranetWare, Novell Directory Services
and GroupWise products, which will be
developed at the company's Orem
headquarters, said sources, who added that
Schmidt did not discuss specific product
features.
Schmidt also confirmed - despite rumors to the
contrary - that Novell will continue to develop its
ManageWise and BorderManager products at
its San Jose facility, sources said.
"All of the core products will remain intact," said
Novell spokesman Austin Edgington, who also
confirmed that the town meetings took place.
Although he would not comment on where each
of the product groups would be located,
Edgington did confirm that Novell has a
"four-wall product strategy" that dictates that no
product group be split between the two states.
As expected, Schmidt also told employees that
remaining Novell Embedded Systems
Technology development would be
discontinued, sources said.
But in a move that surprised many, Schmidt
said he plans to revive Novell's long-neglected
telephony technologies, Edgington confirmed.
Schmidt said the decision on whether to
continue developing small-business products - a
market dominated by Microsoft Corp.'s
Windows NT - is still up in the air, sources said.
In the meetings, Schmidt told employees said it
will take eight to nine months to deliver new
products that are currently in the pipeline and to
transition to a new product focus, according to
sources.
That timing coincides with the next release of
Novell's flagship IntranetWare operating system
- dubbed Moab - due near the end of this year.
But sources have said Moab may be stripped
down in order to ensure delivery of native
Internet Protocol support - a feature analysts
have said is critical to turning the network
operating system into a true Internet product.
Schmidt also told employees that recent reports
that Novell's earnings will be reviewed by an
independent auditor are false, sources said. But
the CEO declined to comment on the future of
other executive officers, including Chief
Financial Officer Jim Tolonen, who have been
rumored to be leaving Novell.
Novell President Joe Marengi announced his
resignation from the company on June 6, amid
reports that he had been called on the carpet by
Schmidt over the company's poor financial
results. Novell reported worse-than-expected
second-quarter results last month, and Schmidt
halted product shipments into the reseller
channel until inventories are reduced, which is
expected to affect Novell's third-quarter
revenues.
Marengi, who stressed that he left Novell of his
own accord, announced this week that he will
join PC maker Dell Computer Corp., of Round
Rock, Texas, as a senior vice president of the
company's relationship group.
Novell can be reached at www.novell.com.
====================================================
Novell's Internet strategist
steps down
By Lisa Wirthman
July 15, 1997 3:15 PM PDT
PC Week Online
Novell Inc.'s senior vice president of Internet
Strategies is leaving the networking company,
officials confirmed today.
Vic Langford resigned from Novell as of the end
of last month to "pursue other interests," said a
company spokesman.
Langford's responsibilities have been divided
among three Novell executives, said the
spokesman. David Bradford, vice counsel for
the company, will handle business development
and partnership issues. Denice Gibson, vice
president of Engineering, will take over directory
and product development matters. And CEO
Eric Schmidt will assume Langford's role as
Internet strategist for the company.
Langford is one of many high-ranking
executives who have either left or are rumored
to be leaving Novell after Schmidt implemented
cutbacks across the board in June.
Former president Joe Marengi resigned from
Novell last month, while Chief Financial Officer
Jim Tolonen is rumored to be leaving the
company as well.
Sources said that both Marengi and Tolonen
had to account to Schmidt after Novell reported
worse-than-expected second-quarter earnings
last spring and announced that third-quarter
earnings are likely to drop as well.
A Novell spokesman said Tolonen is still
employed by the company and refused to
comment on rumors that he may be leaving.
Tolonen was not available for comment.
Sources close to the company, however, said
Tolonen's departure is imminent.
Novell, of Orem, Utah, can be reached at
www.novell.com.
=======================================
July 11, 1997, TechInvestor
More Novell Execs Blow Kisses
Goodbye
Barbara Darrow & Shawn Willett
OREM, Utah -- Executive departures continue at Novell as the company
repositions itself. Jim Tolonen, Novell's longtime chief financial officer, is
about to leave the company, Novell insiders said. Tolonen has been with
Novell since 1989.
In addition, Vic Langford, Novell's senior vice president of Internet strategies,
already has left the company, several Novell sources said. Langford still has a
voice mailbox on the Novell system, but he did not return calls.
"His [Langford's] office is empty. He is gone, and has been for some time," a
Novell source said.
No announcement has been made, however. Neither has there been any
comment on Tolonen. Novell did not return phone calls for comment.
Langford spearheaded the company's Internet game plan, which reportedly
ran afoul last year. Langford's role had diminished since Brainshare in March.
Tolonen has seen the company through its boom period, and, more recently,
through rocky financial times.
Novell last month reduced its work force by 18 percent, or about 1,000
employees, amid poor financial results.
=============================================================
July 21, 1997, Issue: 673
Section: Top of the News
Resignations, Lawsuit At Novell
Novell's personnel troubles continue. The Orem, Utah, company confirmed
that its top Internet executive, Vic Langford, has left. CFO Jim Tolonen also
is expected to resign, sources said. This follows president Joe Marengi's
departure last month for Dell Computer Corp. Also last week, former Novell
engineer Jeff Merkey, who recently left with other Novell employees to form
Timpanogas Research Group, filed a lawsuit against Novell senior vice
president Denice Gibson, claiming she sexually harassed him. Gibson denies
the charges. A Novell suit is pending against Merkey and his start-up for theft
of trade secrets and other charges.
Copyright r 1997 CMP Media Inc.
===========================================================
June 15, 1997, Issue: 1310
Section: Just In Time... Industry Trends & News
Analysis
Greener Pastures? -- Novell's Executive Exodus
Continues
T.C.Doyle
Morale is "in the dumper" at Novell: More than 30 percent of its vice
presidents have left or been demoted in the three months since chairman and
CEO Eric Schmidt joined the company. And that number will likely be going
up. OEM head of sales Jim Sullivan is leaving. So, too, Novell sources say, is
president Joe Marengi. Amid the massive restructuring, insiders speculate that
CFO Jim Tolonen may be next.
Novell had no official comment and declined to speculate on the future of
Marengi or Tolonen.
With a new financial auditor assigned to check Novell's books, it's anticipated
that Novell will have to revisit past financial records. At least one Novell
executive could benefit from the reshuffling: Ron Heinz, senior vice president
of worldwide sales, could move up if he stays on.
Novell's former top salesman, Marengi ran Novell after former CEO Bob
Frankenberg left last year. Though he and Schmidt are said to have a friendly,
professional relationship, Marengi has been criticized for the networking
company's slow sales and recent inventory problems.
Copyright r 1997 CMP Media Inc.
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