New Novell Chief Hovsepian Gears Up To Drive Linux

So Novell has their new head guy in place, but are they really as ready to rumble as they seem to be publicly? I remain a little guarded on the matter, myself.

New Novell CEO Ronald Hovsepian hopes to accelerate the company’s channel charge to Linux with simplified pricing models and rebates.

Hovsepian, named CEO last week following the Novell board’s ouster of Jack Messman, said he aims to simplify operations, align employees on its
Linux goals, and offer partner rebates and other Linux incentives.

As an example, Hovsepian and Novell channel chief Steve Erdman (read Q&A) pointed to a 20 percent rebate on Linux sales the Waltham, Mass., vendor enacted earlier this month.

Partners say the affable Novell sales executive, who was promoted to president and COO last October in a prelude to his latest role, is a worthy successor for Messman.

A CRN.com quick poll found that 76 percent of respondents felt the appointment of Hovsepian will drive more SUSE Linux growth…. Source: TechWeb