Novell moves HQ to the East (Waltham MA)

[Alan R.]

Hi All,

I know this isn't political but I'll post it anyway.

Apparently this is not as big a deal as I initially thought but  

It's still nice to see.

C'ya,

Alan

 

Novell moves HQ to the East (Waltham MA)

http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Jan/01292004/business/133502.asp

 

For two decades, Provo has been synonymous with Novell Inc., the
administrative heart and birthplace for what would become a computer
networking software giant. 
No more. As of late Wednesday, the company quietly changed its official
corporate headquarters to the Boston suburb of Waltham, Mass. First,
Novell's Web page made the change; the news came in a brief mention of
the transition in an otherwise routine financial filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. 
Company spokesman Bruce Lowry stressed that the official designation of
Waltham as Novell's headquarters merely recognized what has been, in
practice, fact since the company's acquisition of Massachusetts-based
Cambridge Technical Partners in July 2001. 
"Most of our executives are there, and our board of directors meets
there," Lowry said. Jack Messman, current Novell chief executive and
board chairman, headed Cambridge prior to its union with Novell. 
And with more recent acquisitions -- including the jewel, last month's
$210 million deal for German Linux distributor SuSE -- Lowry added that
the corporate headquarters designation also "reflects Novell's growth
into a more global company." 
The company said the headquarters designation would not change the
mission nor importance of its 2,000 Utah County employees, who account
for roughly one-third of Novell's 6,200-strong international work force.

"This doesn't involve any change of personnel or move out of Provo in
any way, or any changes in day-to-day activities," Lowry said. 
"Utah definitely is and remains our largest facility, and we are first
to recognize Utah's technology atmosphere and work force have been
critical factors in our development," he said. 

Lowry added it was important for Novell's workers, business partners and
state officials alike to know that, "This is not Novell abandoning Utah,
nor [are we] withdrawing from the state. This just reflects a situation
that has existed for some time now." 
The news left local and state officials trying to put the best face
possible on the change, while admitting the loss of the longtime
headquarters designation is a loss of prestige. 
"The governor feels Novell is a star corporate citizen of Utah," said
Amanda Covington, press secretary for Gov. Olene Walker. "We are
obviously saddened, but at the same time Novell still has business here
and Utah still has a big future in technology." 
Walker will work even harder, Covington said, to "make sure companies
know Utah has a business-friendly climate." 
Provo Mayor Lewis Billings said it may have been inevitable Novell would
come to view Waltham, rather than his city, as its administrative
center. "I'm glad, though, that they have reaffirmed their commitment to
Provo. 
"What's really important to me is that the brain trust, the heart and
soul of Novell, remains right here in Utah," Billings said. 
Ralph Yarrow, a former Novell employee who now is chief executive of the
technology incubator Canopy Group, speculated that despite Novell's
assurances, its Utah County employee base could face changes in coming
years. 
"Their acquisition [SuSE] in Germany will mean they will be spending a
whole lot of time there," Yarrow said. "Practically speaking. . . it is
easier to remove employees in Utah than in Germany, especially since
they are now so focused on the Linux operating system." 
In addition to its new offices in Nuremberg, Germany, Novell also has
offices in 37 countries, including regional centers in Bangalore, India;
Bracknell, Britain; Sydney, Australia, Tokyo; and San Jose, Calif. 
Novell traded well on the Nasdaq exchange Wednesday, closing at $12.71
per share, up 35 cents and 3 percent from Tuesday.  

 

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