Memorandum

To:        Whom it may concern

From:    Chris Horak

Date:     July  2002

All, please find enclosed a high level, as well as a detailed resume for your review.

If my profile seems to invite further discussion, please contact me with more details on the opportunity.

Thanks and best regards

Chris Horak

Wiesbaden, Germany
[email protected]

 

       

Quick Facts

16+ years in management                Sales / Marketing                       Product Management

12+  years Enterprise Software         Globalization                             Business Development

Accomplishments

Definition of Strategic Plan and Market Segmentation                          Software AG, Germany

Definition and Execution of Corporate Branding Strategy                      Software AG, Germany

Restructuring and Management of Corporate Marketing team               Software AG, Germany

Definition and execution of XML product leadership strategy                 Software AG, Germany

Successful pre- and post IPO analyst and event marketing                  Software AG, Germany

Restructuring and Management of Product Marketing team                  Software AG, Germany

 

Successful pre- and post IPO analyst and event marketing                  BEA, Sunnyvale, USA

Build up and management of Product Marketing Team                        BEA, Sunnyvale, USA

 

Definition and market introduction of 20+ new product releases            Informix, Menlo Park, USA

Definition and execution of 10+ technology licensing deals                  Informix, Menlo Park, USA

Definition and execution of Internationalization Strategy                       Informix, Menlo Park, USA

Build-up and management of International Development Department     Informix, Lenexa, USA

 

Build up and management of internationalization services start-up        Gecap, Munich, Germany

 

Strengths                                                                      

Scope               Successful track record in the US as well as in Germany

Experience        16 years in management positions (4 years as Vice President)                 

Knowledge       Deep understanding of Enterprise Software Solutions Markets

Approach          Self-starting, creative, enthusiastic, focused on success

Presence          Proven leader, evangelist, communicator and mentor     

Flexibility          General Management, Development Management, Business Development, 
                        Product Management, Product Marketing, Marketing Communications

Languages        Bilingual German/English, basic knowledge of Spanish, Swedish, French

Chris Horak, Career Overview

 

Most recent company	Most recent employer background	M ost recent manager
Software AG the XML Company	Number 1 Independent System Software Company in Europe; marketing Database, Tools, Middleware and Professional Services.  A leader in mission-critical mainframe to Web integration as well as XML technology. Founded in 1969. 5000 customers world-wide. Successful IPO in 1999. 2001 revenues of 580 Mil. Euro. Leader in XML Server Technology.	Dr. Erwin Königs, CEO and Chairman of the Board
Most recent  position	Primary responsibilities	Staff overview
Vice President Business Development	Define the Software AG Strategy and market segmentation. Define the Software AG execution plan in the emerging market of Mobile Commerce. Represent the Company in analyst meetings and in discussions with M&A candidates.	Executive Assistant 2 Managers of Business Development
Previous  Positions	Primary responsibilities	Staff overview
Vice President, World Wide Marketing Oct 1999 to Oct 2000   Vice President, Product Marketing Feb 1998 to Oct 1999	Marketing Communications incl. corporate identity, marketing strategy, positioning, pricing, sales training, partner marketing, advertising, campaign marketing, analyst relations, event marketing (€ 6M Headquarter Budget) Business Development Identify market segment strategies with differentiated product offerings, marketing messages, competitive positioning and marketing programs. Product Strategy and Positioning Develop compelling product plans and winning marketing messages for multiple market segments and product lines to be leveraged in sales tools, advertising, analyst relationships and collateral.	Director of Marketing Communications, Director of Marketing Operations,   25 Corporate Marketing Managers and Specialists 5 Product Marketing Directors 20 Product Marketing Managers and Specialists

 

Career History	Employer	Responsibilities
Feb 1997 – Feb 1998	BEA Systems, Sunnyvale, CA	Director, Product Marketing
Jan 1990 – Feb 1997	Informix Software, Inc. Menlo Park, CA	Product Marketing Product Management, Int’l Program Management, Int’l Development
July 1986 - Jan 1990	GECAP Software Adaption (now Bowne International) Munich Germany	Managing Director

 

 

Career Milestones

Software AG

2001     VP of Business Development                                    Darmstadt, Germany
2000     General Manager, Mobile Commerce                         Darmstadt, Germany
1999     Vice President, World-Wide Marketing                       Darmstadt, Germany
1998     Vice President,  Product Marketing                           Darmstadt, Germany

BEA Systems, Inc.

1997 - 1998   Director, Product Marketing                              Sunnyvale, California

Informix Software, Inc.

1996 - 1997   Product Line Marketing Manager                       Menlo Park, California

1993 - 1996   Product Line Manager, Connectivity                   Menlo Park, California

1991 - 1993   Manager, International Programs                       Menlo Park, California

1990 - 1991   Manager, International Development                   Lenexa, Kansas

 

GECAP GmbH

1986 - 1990   Managing Director                                            Munich, Germany

Independent Consultant

1983 - 1986  Computer Systems Localization 
and Patent Translation                                                    Munich, Germany

Detailed Work Experience

Oct 2000                       Software AG Corporate Headquarters            
to July 2002                  Vice President Business Development,
                                    and General Manager, Mobile Commerce            Darmstadt, Germany

Responsible for definition and communication of Software AG’s strategy and market segment focus

·        Spokesperson for industry analyst relations

·        Focal point for M&A filtering process

·        Definition of market segment strategies

·        Corporate development of global key accounts

 

Responsible for definition of Software AG’s entry into the mobile commerce market

·        Market research with key customers, partners, analysts

·        Development of technology prototype

·        Development of brand identity

·        Development of business plan and execution strategy

 

Oct 99                          Software AG Corporate Headquarters            
to Oct  2000                  Vice President, World-Wide Marketing                  Darmstadt, Germany

Responsible for restructuring and management of corporate marketing team

·        Definition and execution of world-wide marketing programs and events

·        Events, analyst relations, web marketing, advertisement, collateral etc.

·        Development of overall company branding strategy

·        Result: Software AG, The XML company

·        Definition and execution of single product branding strategy including XML based tools, database and middleware products

·        Result: Tamino, The XML Platform

·        Key note speaker and evangelist at key international events

 

Feb 98                          Software AG Corporate Headquarters            
to Oct  1999                  Vice President, Product Marketing                        Darmstadt, Germany

Responsible for restructuring and management of product marketing team in pre-IPO situation.

·        Development of overall product strategy and positioning

·        Definition and execution of world-wide sales, analyst and press relations

·        Worldwide launch of EntireX and Bolero products

·        Pre-IPO product strategy development

·        IPO road show participation

·        Definition and Execution of Software AG entry into XML market place

·        Worldwide launch of Tamino XML database product

·        Key note speaker and evangelist at key international events

 

March 97                      BEA Systems, Inc.             
to Feb  1998                 Director, Product Marketing                                   Sunnyvale, California

Responsible for build up of product marketing team in pre-IPO situation.

·        Development of product strategy and positioning

·        Define and drive sales, analyst and press relations

·        Definition of marketing campaigns

·        Launch of major new product line (ICEBERG) (pricing, naming, positioning)

     

May 1996                      Informix Software Inc.                                           Menlo Park, California
to 1997                         Product Line Marketing Manager

Responsible for Product Line Marketing for Informix middleware and systems administration.

·        Development of product strategy and positioning

·        API, Gateways, Connectivity, Security

·        JAVA

·        Systems Management

·        Definition / Execution of Product Marketing Plan

·        Development of marketing tools

·        Execution of sales training / rollout

·        Industry analyst and press spokesperson

 

Dec 1993                      Informix Software Inc.                                           Menlo Park, California
to May 1996                  Product Line Manager, Connectivity

Responsible for defining and managing the Informix Data Access Product Line:
Gateways, ESQL, CLI, Networking and DCE, ODBC, and Middleware partnerships.

·        Product Management incl. Market Segmentation, Pricing, Positioning

·        Product Implementation Strategy

·        Technology licensing / acquisitions

·        Staff of 3 Product Managers

 

Jul 1991                       Informix Software Inc.                                           Menlo Park, California
to Dec 1993                  Manager International Programs

Responsible for defining and coordinating the international product program.

·        Defined International Market Requirements

·        Liaison for world-wide subsidiary marketing managers

·        Coordinated international product development labs

·        Representative to the X/Open ISV council for Internationalization

·        Staff of 4 Program Managers

 

Jan 1990                      Informix Software Inc.                                           Lenexa, Kansas
to Jul 1991                   Manager, International Product Development

Responsible for Localization Program and Localized Product Life Cycle
Managed software projects from requirements phase to customer shipment
(Informix SmartWare, Wingz, SQL, 4GL, OnLine and SE)

·        German, French, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian

·        Product Management and Marketing

·        Development, Quality Assurance, Technical Services

·        Maintenance and Life-Cycle Management

·        International Technical Support escalation

·        Staff of 3 Managers (11 staff total)

 

 

Jun  1986                               GECAP GmbH                                                                              Munich, Germany

Jan  1990                     Managing Director, Translation and Publishing Services

 

Build up of a self-contained translation and software localization department for GECAP,
a publishing services organization in Munich, Germany.

·        Business Development, General Management and Marketing. 
Promotion to Managing Director and Assistant General Manager in 1988.

·        Start-up and successful build-up of department as a profit center.

·        Selection of automated translation tools

·        Hiring and training of free lancers, translators, editors and quality assurance
personnel for newly established Translation Department

·        Management of major translation contracts for customers such as Apple,
Compaq, Informix, SPI, WordStar, etc. 

·        Multiple consulting assignments, i.e. for Compaq, Informix, Softlab, etc.

·        Analysis of translation, localization and technical publishing procedures
used by multiple large corporations.

 

1983           CH₂O Language Services                                                   Munich, Germany
to 1986

·        Assistant Professor at Foreign Language Institute

·        Independent Consultant

·        Patent translations

·        Technical document translations

·        Software translation

EDUCATION

1993     UC. Berkeley Extension                                         San Francisco, CA
to 1995

·        Certificate in Marketing

 

1980           Bachelor of Science,                                Technical Translation
to 1984       Foreign Language Institute                       Munich, Germany

·        Engineering Concentration

·        Certified Interpreter and Translator

·        German – English

 

1970           Abitur (General Certificate of Education, A Level)
to 1979       Dante Gymnasium for Modern Languages            Munich, Germany

·        English 9 years

·        Latin   5 years

·        French  3 years