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Larry Ellison Will Step Down as CEO of Oracle, Will Remain as CTO

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Re: Larry Ellison Will Step Down as CEO of Oracle, Will Remain as CTO

#22
Not really sure what to say about this. I don't know Ellison, nor do I own Oracle stock, or have any particular interest in Oracle per-se. But nonetheless, I've always seen Ellison as an important character in our industry, and after reading a biography about him, I felt a sort of kinship with him based on some shared interests.

At any rate, it definitely feels like the "end of an era" in a sense. I got my start in this industry in the mid to late 90's when Oracle, IBM, Novell, Microsoft, Borland, etc. were duking it out for supremacy, and - for better or worse - you've never really been able to escape Oracle's shadow to some extent. And Ellison was Oracle, in so many ways.

Edit: It's been a while, but I think this[1] was the biography I read. I'll just say this: regardless of what you think of Ellison, he's an interesting character and reading about the history of Ellison / Oracle is quite fascinating.

[1]: http://www.amazon.com/Softwar-Intimate-Portrait-Ellison-Orac...

Re: Larry Ellison Will Step Down as CEO of Oracle, Will Remain as CTO

#25
post #18

Will Oracle then become better? Maybe as good as Sun used to be? just dreamin'...

I doubt this'll happen. I wish this would happen. But I sincerely doubt this will happen. Sun really felt like a once in a life time company. I think the best thing we can hope for is board room infighting will just kill Oracle.

Re: Larry Ellison Will Step Down as CEO of Oracle, Will Remain as CTO

#26
If you want to read about Larry Ellison's personality and his management style, you should read - "The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison: Inside Oracle Corporation; God Doesn't Think He's Larry Ellison". (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181369.The_Difference_Bet...)

It's one of the best books written on him and the way he managed Oracle right from it's beginnings. He was damn good at selling things.

Re: Larry Ellison Will Step Down as CEO of Oracle, Will Remain as CTO

#28
post #9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it has something to do with him being 70?

Wow, I never knew that he is 70. I thought 40-something. But he looks really young. In this picture he is 69! [1] [1] http://www.channelweb.co.uk/IMG/834/272834/big-ellison.jpg

> I thought 40-something

You know Oracle was founded in the late 70's. And Ellison was a co-founder.

Re: Larry Ellison Will Step Down as CEO of Oracle, Will Remain as CTO

#29
post #3

Co-CEOs? I only know one company that had co-CEOs, and that didn't work out well for them.

Yep, it's like Hurding Catz. Ok I'll show myself out.

Ellison, Hurd and Catz. It does sound like Groucho Marx should be playing at least one of them.
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