DETROIT – Compuware,which makes computer testing, development and management software, on Monday announced it has promoted Robert Paul to President and Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1. Paul currently is President of Compuware Covisint. He will continue to report to Compuware Chairman and CEO Peter Karmanos Jr.
Paul will lead the company’s worldwide products and services operations, the organization’s Compuware 2.0 initiative and a number of other key
functions, such as product management, marketing and communications,
technical sales support, and recruiting, training and career development.
Replacing Paul as president of Compuware Covisint is David McGuffie to the position of President, Compuware Covisint. McGuffie will be responsible for accelerating Covisint’s revenue growth. McGuffie also will
report to Paul.
“Bob has the vision, the passion and the leadership skills to ensure
Compuware maximizes the performance of its sales and services teams,” Karmanos said.
In other news, Compuware announced that the company has hired
Tanya Heidelberg-Yopp as Vice President and Special Assistant to the COO,
reporting directly to Paul. Heidelberg-Yopp brings a fresh, creative and
strategic approach to Compuware after years of legal and business
leadership roles for MTV Networks, Diversified Entertainment and Motown
Center, the company said in a press release.
“This is an incredible time at Compuware,” said Paul. “The company’s
sales and services teams have all of the technology and tools they need to
deliver growth in revenue and earnings, and I’m honored to have this
opportunity to lead them in doing so. I’m also excited to work with Senior
Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Jason Vines on the
company’s Compuware 2.0 initiative. This company and its people have an
amazing story to tell about our dedication to relentlessly working together
to provide excellence for customers around the world.”
Meanwhile, Compuware said its board authorized an additional repurchase of up to $750 million worth of common stock, in an effort to reduce its outstanding common share count to 200 million shares, and drive up its stock price. The company currently has about 281.4 million shares outstanding, valued at $2.37 billion based on the stock’s closed price Monday of $8.41.
Karmanos said the global roll-out of Compuware 2.0 will begin with
Paul’s appointment.
“Bob has been working diligently throughout the enterprise over the
past few months to make certain that Compuware 2.0 has a running start,”
said Karmanos. “The Board is completely behind his strategic vision for
Compuware. One of the first orders of business is to create an
organizational structure that is aligned to that vision. That is what we
are announcing today.”
Paul came to Compuware in March of 2004 as a result of the company’s
acquisition of Covisint. Since that time, he has guided Covisint to
remarkable revenue growth and significant expansion in a number of vertical
industries. Paul joined Covisint in October of 2001, playing a key role in
the company’s restructuring.
In addition to Paul, four other Compuware executives will report to CEO
Karmanos: Laura Fournier, Executive Vice President and CFO, in charge of
Finance, Human Resources and Legal; Chris Bockhausen, Chief Information
Officer; Denise Starr, Chief Administrative Officer; and Andrew Hittle,
Vice President of the Business Transformation Team.
Founded in 1973, Compuware serves the world’s leading IT organizations, including more than 90 percent of the Fortune 100 companies. Learn more Compuware.Com
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