Autodesk Announces New Responsibilities for Key Executives; Company Combines Product and Sales Groups into Single Business Unit
SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2002--Autodesk Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK) today announced new executive assignments and a new organizational structure for its Design Solutions Division. Carl Bass, executive vice president, will lead the new Design Solutions Division, which for the first time combines the manufacturing, geographic information systems, and building industry product groups with the worldwide sales and marketing teams that bring those products to market.
Bass rejoined Autodesk last year as chief strategy officer when the company acquired Buzzsaw, an Autodesk spin-off focused on web-based collaboration services for the building industry. Bass had served as CEO of Buzzsaw for two years. Prior to Buzzsaw, Bass was an Autodesk executive for six years, holding various strategic management positions. With more than 20 years' experience in the software industry, Bass was a driving force behind Autodesk's diversification strategy implemented over the last five years.
The company also announced the appointment of Doug May as vice president for worldwide sales for Design Solutions, reporting to Bass. May will be responsible for all geographic regions, including direct and indirect channels. He joined Autodesk two years ago from Fujitsu. May has more than 18 years of technology sales and marketing management experience and was instrumental to Autodesk's initiative to balance channel strategy in the Americas region.
Mike Sutton, who ran worldwide sales, will move into a newly created management position: executive vice president of Business Operations.
Sutton's new organization comprises information technology and worldwide operations, focusing on essential back-office infrastructure. Sutton, an Autodesk executive for 15 years, has held a variety of management positions. He led the sales organization for the last two years and was responsible for building our industry-leading channel program.
"I commend our executive team for strong management of the company over the last twelve months," said Carol Bartz, Autodesk CEO. "These changes reinforce our commitment to maximizing the value of digital design information. Our product and sales teams working within a single group will give us greater market agility -- essential to our continued solid performance."
Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc. is the world's leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company. The company serves a diverse portfolio of markets, including building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering tools that foster innovation and creativity, Autodesk helps customers throughout the value chain leverage digital design data to work better, faster and smarter. Autodesk is one of the largest global software companies with annual revenues of $936 million. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.
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CONTACT: Autodesk, Inc. Misty Ohmart, 415/507-6208 (Investor) misty.ohmart@autodesk.com Nicole Pack, 415/507-6282 (Media) nicole.pack@autodesk.com