SuSE Linux names key executives

Geck, 35, joined SuSE in 1997, and served since early 2000 as vice president Technology Partners. Geck built strong alliances with partners AMD, Fujitsu-Siemens-Computers, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Oracle and SAP. Geck built a framework for SuSE to cooperate with all major hardware vendors and CPU manufacturers. In 2002 he introduced SuSE's Technology Partner Program to provide a scalable offering for all SuSE partners. Geck also helped design SuSE's flagship product, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server and its maintenance model, enabling the first enterprise Linux offering in the market. Geck holds a masters degree in production engineering from the University of Erlangen, Germany. Geck will be responsible for aligning and communicating the company's technology strategy.

Boris Nalbach, SuSE's CTO since Jan 2002, has decided to leave the company in June to pursue other interests in the technology industry. Nalbach was instrumental in bringing an enterprise focus to SuSE Linux, shaping company and product strategy -- including championing SuSE's single source code strategy and bringing a process-driven focus to business implementation. He was also essential in driving SuSE's partnership focus, implementing customers' and technology partners' needs. He will continue to work on special business enablement projects for SuSE Linux.

Heine, 46, brings to SuSE more than fifteen years in IT and strategic alliance programs -- including ten years at Compaq and four years at Siebel Systems, where he served as director of a variety of alliance departments including HP Global Strategic Alliances, International Alliances, and Platform Alliances. He most recently served as director of HP Global Strategic Alliances at Siebel. Heine earned an MBA from Colorado State as a Fulbright Scholar, as well as a degree in international business/marketing from Fachhochschule Bielefeld, Germany.

Dr. Schmid, 40, joins SuSE from Mentor Graphics, where he worked as managing director for the company's data management systems business unit and had responsibility for business development, product strategy and development. Prior to that, he was vice president for product marketing and pricing at i2 Technologies in Dallas, Texas, where he oversaw the repositioning of i2's software.