Comments on: SugarCRM CEO Change: An Open Source Setback? http://www.thevarguy.com/2009/05/11/sugarcrm-ceo-change-an-open-source-setback/ What's Next In the IT Channel Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:53:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: The VAR Guy http://www.thevarguy.com/2009/05/11/sugarcrm-ceo-change-an-open-source-setback/comment-page-1/#comment-99873 The VAR Guy Tue, 12 May 2009 14:54:26 +0000 http://www.thevarguy.com/?p=2622#comment-99873 John who?: True, companies often need to change management as they shift from one business stage to the next. But clearly, SugarCRM had deeper issues. The fact that the company named an interim CEO suggests that Roberts and the board did not see eye to eye, and their was no real succession plan in place... The acting CEO has a ton of experience. And The VAR Guy believes SugarCRM's brand and market position remain sound. But if this change merely involved moving the company from one business stage to the next, the transition would not have involved Roberts leaving in silence with zero statements from him to the media. John who?: True, companies often need to change management as they shift from one business stage to the next. But clearly, SugarCRM had deeper issues.

The fact that the company named an interim CEO suggests that Roberts and the board did not see eye to eye, and their was no real succession plan in place…

The acting CEO has a ton of experience. And The VAR Guy believes SugarCRM’s brand and market position remain sound.

But if this change merely involved moving the company from one business stage to the next, the transition would not have involved Roberts leaving in silence with zero statements from him to the media.

]]> By: John who? http://www.thevarguy.com/2009/05/11/sugarcrm-ceo-change-an-open-source-setback/comment-page-1/#comment-99872 John who? Tue, 12 May 2009 14:43:16 +0000 http://www.thevarguy.com/?p=2622#comment-99872 When a company grows as fast as Sugar has, since Sugar became profitable so quickly, there is often a need for a different type of Management style / CEO. The skills required to lead a startup into profitability vs. the skills to lead and grow a company the the next stage in the companies life cycle are two different skill sets. Not all managers possess both. The software world is full of examples of CEO's being changed to accommodate rapid growth. Add in the horrible economy and you have a recipe for management change When a company grows as fast as Sugar has, since Sugar became profitable so quickly, there is often a need for a different type of Management style / CEO.

The skills required to lead a startup into profitability vs. the skills to lead and grow a company the the next stage in the companies life cycle are two different skill sets. Not all managers possess both. The software world is full of examples of CEO’s being changed to accommodate rapid growth.

Add in the horrible economy and you have a recipe for management change

]]> By: Andrew Dailey http://www.thevarguy.com/2009/05/11/sugarcrm-ceo-change-an-open-source-setback/comment-page-1/#comment-99864 Andrew Dailey Tue, 12 May 2009 03:16:36 +0000 http://www.thevarguy.com/?p=2622#comment-99864 MGI Research shares the VAR Guy's view that 2009 will be a tough year for open source companies. In the end, it's about profits, and open source companies do themselves a disservice by not marketing a tangible ROI or credible TCO model. MGI Research shares the VAR Guy’s view that 2009 will be a tough year for open source companies. In the end, it’s about profits, and open source companies do themselves a disservice by not marketing a tangible ROI or credible TCO model.

]]> By: The VAR Guy http://www.thevarguy.com/2009/05/11/sugarcrm-ceo-change-an-open-source-setback/comment-page-1/#comment-99857 The VAR Guy Mon, 11 May 2009 23:14:01 +0000 http://www.thevarguy.com/?p=2622#comment-99857 Frankie Says: Thanks for the note. The VAR Guy expects some news from a few other open source companies on the channel front this week. Does that mean open source companies are generating profits? Not necessarily. But progress, nonetheless, will be announced soon. And once SugarCRM names a long-term CEO, our resident blogger will get a reality check from that company... Frankie Says: Thanks for the note. The VAR Guy expects some news from a few other open source companies on the channel front this week.

Does that mean open source companies are generating profits? Not necessarily. But progress, nonetheless, will be announced soon. And once SugarCRM names a long-term CEO, our resident blogger will get a reality check from that company…

]]> By: Frankie Says http://www.thevarguy.com/2009/05/11/sugarcrm-ceo-change-an-open-source-setback/comment-page-1/#comment-99856 Frankie Says Mon, 11 May 2009 20:59:01 +0000 http://www.thevarguy.com/?p=2622#comment-99856 Nice to see The VAR Guy no longer drinks SugarCRM's Kool Aid. They're a great company but you're on the mark when you describe bigger issues at hand here. Other than Red Hat do we really know if any commercial open source providers are profitable? Nice to see The VAR Guy no longer drinks SugarCRM’s Kool Aid. They’re a great company but you’re on the mark when you describe bigger issues at hand here. Other than Red Hat do we really know if any commercial open source providers are profitable?

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