Informix Creates Data Warehouse, E-Commerce Divisions
ACTION ITEMS
As part of an internal reorganization announced previously, Informix has created two new divisions aimed at boosting sales of its database software to customers building data warehousing and electronic-commerce environments. Informix also integrated its strategic alliance and developer relations initiatives into a single business group.
The new Data Warehousing and Web and E-Commerce divisions each bring under a single umbrella the previously separate product development, service, and marketing efforts related to those two fast-growing markets, Informix officials noted. The new divisions will better enable Informix to meet growing customer demand for "complete solutions" that combine its database products with tools, integration and consulting services, and third-party technologies, said Wes Raffel, who was appointed vice president and general manager of the Web and e-commerce division. Raffel was formerly the head of North American sales; his position will be filled by Don Hunt.
A key goal of the reorganization is to increase the company's revenues, Raffel said. "Top-line license revenue growth will be critical for us as we move forward, and these are the two fastest growing segments of that."
Informix's sales could do with a shot in the arm. Earlier this month, it said revenues for the second quarter, ended June 30, were $174.2 million, down from $182.5 million in the second quarter of 1997. Profits for the quarter were $12.3 million, compared to a net loss of $111.4 million a year ago.
The internal reorganization will not affect Informix's financial results for the quarter because the company has only shuffled around existing divisions, and has not laid off any workers as a result, Raffel said. In the longer term, the two new divisions will generate an increasingly large portion of the company's revenues, although Raffel declined to offer specific estimates.
The new data warehousing division will address a range of markets from the smallest Windows NT data mart to the largest Unix data warehouse. Also, Leonard Palomino, formerly a senior manager of Informix's North American Consulting and System Integration business, was appointed vice president and general manager of the new data warehousing division.
Informix Corp., in Menlo Park, Calif., can be reached at http://www.informix.com