Netscape names new CTO
Eric Hahn is promoted from senior vice president to chief technology officer of Netscape.
Eric Hahn, former founder and CEO of Collabra Software, today was promoted to the company's inner circle.
As earlier reported by
NEWS.COM, Hahn this
week will join Netscape's new executive committee,
consisting of four
executive vice presidents along with president and chief executive officer Jim
Barksdale.
Hahn joined Netscape in November 1995 after the company's acquisition of Collabra. Most recently, Hahn served as senior vice president and general manager of Netscape's server products division.
"As an engineer at heart, I particularly look forward to continued technical collaboration with Marc [Andreessen] and the world-class Netscape product-development team that is designing and building innovative software for linking people and business together," Hahn said in a statement.
He told NEWS.COM today that he has four areas he'd like to focus on in his new position. "First, I'd like to work more on our technology directions here at the company. Second, I'd also like to immediately work on the great opportunities for changing the way we develop software. Third, I will continue to be an advocate for our key partners and clients. Finally, I'll be leading the initiative to increase our ties globally with universities and research institutions."
Hahn got the news of his promotion while on sabbatical with his family in Italy. Netscape's company policy gives employees a sabbatical every four years, and Hahn's two years at Collabra plus two at Netscape made him eligible for the break, he said.
Taking over Hahn's former role at Netscape is John Paul, senior vice president and general manager of the server products division.
Since the Collabra acquisition, Netscape has integrated that company's technology into its servers and its Communicator client.
Hahn originally was with cc:Mail, which became part of Lotus Development. He left cc:Mail to help found Collabra, in part to take on Lotus's Notes groupware, the same competition that Netscape has engaged with its Communicator client.
The CTO position formerly was held by the company's co-founder, Marc Andreessen, who took a new role in July as executive vice president of products, running Netscape's product divisions.