Jeff Papows, the embattled chief executive of software maker Lotus Development, said today he is resigning, effective Feb. 1.
Al Zollar, a 23-year IBM veteran, will replace Papows as president and CEO effective next month. Papows, who has been at Lotus for seven years, will stay with the firm through the second quarter to assist in the transition.
Papows has been surrounded by controversy this year. In May, he was
named in a sexual discrimination
In April, a Wall Street Journal
"I have come to this decision after a great deal of
very difficult
reflection about where Lotus is right now and about my own future,"
Papows wrote in an email sent to Lotus employees today. "I would like once
again to lead an independent organization. It would not be fair to you, our
customers or IBM for me to pursue that objective while continuing as your CEO."
Papows said he is leaving to lead an independent company, which he did not identify.
Sam Albert, president of Albert Associates and an industry analyst who
follows IBM closely, said he doesn't think any of the earlier negative
news had anything to do with Papows' decision.
"He has done a stellar
job at Lotus," Albert said. "The results are [there to see]. They speak for themselves."
The appointment of Zollar to CEO does not represent a desire by IBM to have more control over Lotus, Albert said. "IBM's model is to let its acquisitions go their own course. And I think Lotus will continue
with its great performance."
Lotus competes with Microsoft in the groupware market. The company began
Under Papows' leadership, Lotus Notes' installed base has grown from 2.2
million in 1995 to more than 50 million users today, IBM claims.
"He has
tirelessly pursued a successful strategy to expand the Lotus customer base,
despite fierce competition from Microsoft," John
Thompson, general manager of IBM's White Plains, N.Y., division,
wrote in an email to Lotus employees today.