Direct responsibility for global sales operations has passed to BEA’s vice president for worldwide field operations, and former head of services, Tom Ashburn.
Ill joined in January 2003 having served for 24-years at IBM Corp, most recently as vice president of worldwide geography sales in IBM’s software group before joining BEA.
Asburn, with BEA for two years, saw his star rise earlier this year following a management re-organization, which saw Ill and departed chief marketing officer (CMO) Tod Nielson report into him instead of CEO Alfred Chuang.
BEA said Asburn, a former Hewlett Packard Co executive, ran a multibillion dollar division, growing significantly revenue and profit. Giving him direct responsibility for the sales force will help allow [Ashburn] to tightly integrate marketing and services efforts with our sales activities, Chuang said in a statement.
Meanwhile, BEA confirmed it had appointed former Sun senior vice president, marketing and global sales operations Marge Breya as CMO, reporting to Asburn.
BEA’s management has been through a massive shake-up this year. The company lost chief technology officer (CTO) Scott Dietzen, senior vice president of advanced development Adam Bosworth, Nielson, vice president of worldwide channels and alliances Scott Edgington and senior vice president of product marketing Rick Jackson.
BEA has been tight-lipped on reasons for departures, however reports have suggested differences over strategic direction with Chuang preferring to build technology, instead of acquire, and resisting price cuts in the face of competition.
