BEA Systemsis throwing new muscle behind its AquaLogic
service-oriented architecture software to wash out the competition.
The company, working to catch up to rival IBMin the
middleware space, named Rob Levy executive vice president of new products
strategy. Levy will oversee research and development, product management,
quality assurance and support of the new AquaLogic product lines.
Levy’s track record includes more than 25 years of experience leading all
aspects of the computer software and services business at large
organizations with more than 500 employees. The executive most recently
worked for Computer Associates, where he guided CA’s global technology
strategy as senior vice president and chief technology strategist.
Levy will report to Wai Wong, BEA executive vice president of products.
The appointment comes a week after the company launched
the AquaLogic product family of messaging, integration and security software
in New York City. AquaLogic falls under the company’s new Think Liquid brand
for creating software that allows businesses to adapt to change on the fly.
IBM, HP, Microsoftand several other
major software vendors are all promoting more flexible software options for customers who need infrastructure that
switches gears at a moment’s notice and in real time.
But BEA needs the SOAmove to be a significant groundbreaker to
compete with IBM and Microsoft, with whom it battles in the application
server space. SOAs harness Web servicesto enable
distributed computing across disparate components.
BEA CEO Alfred Chuang added to the executive shuffle by promoting Peter
Stanley to senior vice president, EMEA sales and operations at BEA Systems. Stanley most recently served as vice president of sales, United
Kingdom, Ireland and Africa.
Chuang also tabbed Alan Button senior vice president of the Worldwide
Partner Program. Button was formerly senior vice president of sales and
marketing for Pearson Education/Pearson Digital. Button will report to Tom
Ashburn, president of the worldwide field organization at BEA.
Lastly, the company selected Kelly Collins as BEA vice president and
general manager, federal sales. Collins was formerly the vice president of
Government & Homeland Security for General Electric. Collins will report to
Rich Geraffo, senior vice president of Americas Sales at BEA.