Late last week Oracle announced the appointment of Greg Maffei, former CFO of Microsoft, to the position of president (the company’s third) and also to the role of chief bean-counter from mid-July. Today, air/finger-interface consultancy Ovum tried to make sense of Oracle’s “now we are three” approach to the presidency, with top analyst David Mitchell revealing exactly the kind of expert commentary you'd expect of an ex-Oracle insider:
“There were ten in the bed and the little one said 'roll over, roll over'. They all rolled over and one fell out," Mitchell noted, before moving on to some adult-speak. “We wonder if one of the presidents will fall out of the Oracle bed in the next 6-12 months.”
Well, yes, but which one? Obviously Maffei, newly under the covers, is safe. The other two are Safra Catz and Charles Phillips. Perhaps there is a clue in their pay-packets? Last year Catz was paid $2.7m in cash. Phillips got just $1.08m, according to SEC filings. Assuming that both got paid largely on the basis of hitting their business targets - or not - Sneak has to assume that it’s Phillips’ neck that’s uncomfortably close to the chopping block. Unless, of course, Oracle is looking to save a few bucks on payroll next year...

27 Jun 2005