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Google grabs Novell SA boss

By Kimberly Guest, ITWeb senior journalist
Johannesburg, 27 Jul 2007

Novell SA country manager Stafford Masie has resigned in order to establish and head up the local operation of Internet giant Google.

The Novell veteran has led the South African office since 2003. Prior to that, Masie served at the company's corporate headquarters in Utah and Arizona, US.

This morning, Masie confirmed his resignation from software house Novell and his appointment as GM for Google locally.

“I will be heading up Google's operations in SA as of 3 September, more than that I cannot say. Google will issue a formal statement soon,” he said.

Last year, ITWeb reported that Google was advertising three posts in SA on its jobs site. These included a country manager, vertical account manager and a multi-sector vertical head. Currently, the company has no available posts listed for the Africa region.

Meanwhile, Novell SA's marketing and channel manager, Trish Barwick, says the company is “honoured” that one of its people has been selected to open Google's local office.

“We are sad to see him go; but very excited about what he will be doing,” she says.

A statement regarding Masie's replacement will be made shortly, Barwick adds.

Google was unavailable for comment. Its chairman and CEO, Eric Schmidt, was recruited in 2001 by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin from Novell, where he was chairman and CEO.

Masie spent four years at Novell corporate headquarters in Utah, where he was involved in developing the strategy that saw Novell acquire Linux innovator Ximian and SuSe Linux in 2003, and become an open source software (OSS) company.

He returned to SA in late 2003 to take the reins of Novell SA, becoming the youngest country manger of an IT multinational subsidiary in the country. He has been credited with repositioning Novell as an OSS vendor, as well as being a champion of the OSS movement in South Africa.

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Group may ban Novell software
Google sets up SA office

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Martin said:

The connectivity agenda

Stafford, you now have the platform to drive the connectivity agenda in SA. We’ve always opined about the high costs of broadband connectivity in SA. You now have the platform to influence key decision makers to drive down the costs of connectivity and also the opening of our telco market. We don’t only want to see Google SA successful...we want to see you driving some broader key issues! Right company and right guy...let’s see what happens!

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August 02, 2007 Votes: +0

Martin said:

You don`t know Google

Do you really understand how Google makes money? They`re not just a search engine! Take a look at all their product offerings...most importantly what`s happening in Google labs. Most important...(Stafford, I hope you`re going to read this)...have you been watching what Google`s doing in the wireless spectrum space in the USA? And also the partnerships they`ve been striking with Sprint and other carriers? Now just imagine what Stafford could do with Vodacom/Telkom and the others...if mobile is so important to Google...then launching in the emerging countries, such as SA, is a no-brainer! I could give so many more examples...but all of them are just ideas if we don`t have a dynamic leader to execute within the local spheres...therefore my vote is with Stafford - he now has the platform to change so much in SA!

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August 02, 2007 Votes: +0

Martin said:

Enough already...

I must be honest...I`m sick and tired of this BEE "thing"! You and Johnny commenting here know absolutely NOTHING about Google`s sales model and product offerings. Stating it is an "easy out" and that Google will just sell itself is non-informed! So...you don`t know the company...you obviously think they`re only a search engine BUT you`re drooling over a BEE stake. Bloody irritating...let`s give Stafford and Google SA our support and a chance to be big...it`ll place SA on the global map. Give it all a couple years...see if it is sustainable...and then put on the BEE pressure. Else...pushing the BEE agenda now is nothing more than scavenging...and if I were Google I`d reverse this decision to invest and create a local entity.

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August 02, 2007 Votes: +0

Tweedle Dee said:

Something is about to hit the fan

I think Stafford saw that the light at the end of the tunnel was actually from a Gautrain ready to squash Novell. I smell a rat here. I suspect something is about to hit the fan at Novell. Either that or the Microsoft deal just frustrated the fellow. Part of Novell’s problem is that they can’t make up their mind. The company is like a transvestite (they don’t know whether they are an Open Source company or Proprietary). This double edge sword strategy won’t work in a world where the line on the sand has been drawn. Its either your with us or you are with them. Anyway, Google is the best choice for such a dynamic guy.

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July 30, 2007 Votes: +0