Appointment of VP of Product Development

RNS Number : 7780C

Sopheon PLC

14 March 2011

 



Embargoed release for 14 March 2011

SOPHEON PLC

("Sopheon" or "the Company")

Appointment of Vice President of Product Development

Sopheon, the international product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services company, announced today that it has appointed Don Sarno, a former technology executive with Intuit Inc, to lead its product development organization.  Mr. Sarno will serve in the role of vice president of product development.  His responsibilities will focus on directing and evolving the company's product development, product management and product support organizations.  

Mr. Sarno was most recently director of product management for Activant Solutions, a supplier of enterprise supply chain and manufacturing software.  He previously was with Intuit Inc, the $3.5B producer of financial software, where he was the product leader within the office of the general manager for Intuit's distribution management solution (IDMS).  

"Our product development efforts have advanced in parallel with the continued growth and maturation of our business," said Andy Michuda, chief executive officer of Sopheon.  "In fewer than five years, we have moved from one product offering to three.  During that same period, deployment scenarios have become more expansive and more complex.  Many of our customers have worldwide operations and an increasing number are looking to extend the value of our solutions by implementing them on a global scale.  Don Sarno is a proven product development leader with exceptional technical and business acumen.  At Intuit, he learned the lessons of enterprise solutions development from some of the most sophisticated and accomplished application strategists and technology visionaries in the world.  He has a strong customer orientation and an impressive track record of creating successful enterprise applications in high-growth markets.  His presence will enhance our ability to anticipate the requirements of our global customers, and shape our solutions to match their special needs." 

Manufacturers across a range of industries use Sopheon's software to increase revenues and profits from new products.  The company's Accolade^® solution is recognized as a clear market leader in providing portfolio management decision-support across the product lifecycle. 

The software enables end-to-end governance of the innovation process, including strategic roadmapping, idea development, and gated-process execution.  Among Sopheon's current customers are such well-known global manufacturers as BASF, ConAgra, Electrolux, Heinz, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Owens Corning, Parker Hannifin, PepsiCo, SABMiller and Total.  

"It's tough to articulate what excites me most about this opportunity," said Mr. Sarno.  "One of the advantages I have in my new role is that Sopheon has a supportive, accountability-driven culture with an overarching commitment toward delivering value to the customer.  I'm joining a team of highly skilled technical professionals who have been able to embrace and drive change, and who are tightly aligned in their desire to help grow the company to the next level.  They have built strong cornerstone technology and best-of-class solutions that are providing dramatic benefit.  Moreover, Sopheon is a market leader with ambitious growth plans, and I am exhilarated by the prospect of being able to help define and develop solutions that delight its rapidly expanding global customer base.  I've travelled this path before, and I know how rewarding the journey can be.  I am thrilled to have the chance to be a part of Sopheon's continued success."      

Accolade^® is a registered trademark of Sopheon plc.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.

For further information contact:

Barry Mence, Chairman	Sopheon plc	Tel :         + 44 (0) 1483 685 735
Arif Karimjee, CFO	Sopheon plc	Tel :         + 44 (0) 1483 685 735
Charles Cunningham/ Charlotte Stranner	finncap Limited	Tel:          +44  (0) 20 7600 1658
Nicholas Nelson / Guy McDougall	Hansard Communications	Tel :         + 44 (0) 20 7245 1100
Floor van Maaren	Citigate First Financial	Tel :         + 31 (0) 205 754 010

About Sopheon

Sopheon (LSE:SPE) is an international provider of software and services that help organizations improve the business impact of product innovation.  Sopheon's solutions automate and govern the innovation process, enabling companies to increase revenue and profits from new products.  Sopheon is listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange and on the Euronext in the Netherlands.  For more information, please visit www.sopheon.com.

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