Natural language search engine operation Ask Jeeves Inc. named
company co-founder Garrett Gruener as chairman, replacing Roger Strauch, who
will remain on the company’s board, chairing the compensation and nominating
committees.
The company, acting to execute on a plan to achieve operating profitability
in the fourth quarter of this year, also named James Kirsner to its board of
directors, effective immediately.
Kirsner, chief financial officer of BARRA Inc., a provider of investment
analytics and trading solutions, will replace Ben Rosen, who is retiring.
Kirsner will chair the board’s audit committee.
“We have put a board structure in place that leverages the individual
strengths of its members to most effectively assist Ask Jeeves in completing
its near-term initiatives,” said Skip Battle, CEO of Ask Jeeves.
“I will
continue to work closely with Roger and will also benefit from more of
Garrett’s time as chairman. Garrett’s intimate knowledge of Ask Jeeves’
technology and broader software and systems engineering background should
prove invaluable in guiding new product development.”
The company’s stated objectives for the year include “focusing on its core
technology assets” to pursue new market opportunities
Gruener is a founding general partner of Alta Partners, a venture capital
firm. Prior to forming Alta Partners, Gruener was a general partner of
venture capital firm Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co.
Ask Jeeves stock was trading at $2.59 a share at mid-day, up six cents. Its
52-week high is $139.75.