New CEO for informix !

INFORMIX CORPORATION NAMES ROBERT J. FINOCCHIO PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MENLO PARK, Calif., Tuesday (July 22, 1997) -- Informix Corporation (NASDAQ: IFMX), the leading provider of innovative database technology, today announced that Robert J. "Bob" Finocchio, Jr. has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and will join the Company+s Board of Directors. Phillip E. White will continue in his role as Chairman of the Board of Informix. Finocchio, age 46, brings a wealth of sales, marketing, product development, service, finance, and general management experience to Informix. Most recently, Finocchio was president of 3Com Systems, a leading supplier in the explosive networking equipment market, and was instrumental in that company+s growth from $419 million in 1990 to over $3.1 billion in 1997. He was a key part of the management team that repositioned 3Com in the early 1990s and helped build the company into the data networking powerhouse it is today. As president of 3Com Systems, Finocchio managed 10 divisions encompassing more than 4,000 employees. His responsibilities included worldwide end-user sales, customer service, systems marketing, systems manufacturing, and systems finance. Note: You may download this photograph in higher resolution for print. "The Board is delighted to have an executive of Bob+s caliber in the CEO position at Informix," White said. "Bob has spent his entire career developing and supporting as well as selling and marketing enterprise-level technology into large, mission-critical accounts. His leadership will be a tremendous benefit to Informix. Together we will set the Company+s strategy, enabling me to focus on ensuring that Informix has the right relationships and partnerships to carry out that strategy. The Board and management are committed to returning Informix to profitability at the earliest possible date and to setting a long term strategy designed to restore the Company+s growth in years ahead." "Informix is a tremendous convergence of challenge and opportunity," Finocchio stated. "I am looking forward to working with management and the Board and to leading Informix. My goal is to build a solid foundation for the growth and success of the Company. I have great confidence and optimism in Informix+s future and its place in the information technology industry." Finocchio began his career at The Bank of America in 1975. Since 1978, he has held a number of senior finance, service, sales, and marketing positions at ROLM Corporation. He joined 3Com in 1988 as vice president of sales, marketing, and services and was later promoted to executive vice president of field operations. In 1993, he took charge of 3Com+s systems product development organizations and was responsible for integration and management of 10 acquisitions made by 3Com. He was named president of 3Com Systems in 1996. Finocchio majored in economics at the University of Santa Clara, where he graduated magna cum laude. He graduated with high distinction from the Harvard Business School and was named a Baker Scholar. Finocchio serves on the board of directors of Latitude Communications and the Board of Regents at Santa Clara University. Just in case anyone didn't know yet... Cheers, Tony.