Paul Maritz
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Paul Maritz
| image = Paul Maritz, CEO of VMWare (3239016392).jpg
| caption = Paul Maritz in 2009
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|3|16|mf=y}}{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Jay|last2=Grimaldi|first2=James V.|date=January 17, 1999|title=Microsoft Trial - Low-Profile Exec In Hot Seat|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990117&slug=2939186|work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 19, 2024}}
| birth_place = Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Zimbabwe)
| employer = {{hlist|Intel | Microsoft | VMware | Pivotal | Acronis[https://www.acronis.com/en-us/pr/2021/10/18-11-50.html "Cyber protection leader, Acronis, appoints technology veteran, Paul Maritz, as Chairman of the Board"] }}
| occupation = Chairman, Pivotal Software
| alma_mater = University of Natal
University of Cape Town
| death_date =
| death_place =
}}
Paul Alistair Maritz (born March 16, 1955) is a computer scientist and software executive. He held positions at Microsoft and EMC Corporation. In October 2021, Maritz was named as the chairman of the board of directors for Acronis. He also is chairman of Pivotal Software.
Early life
Paul Maritz was born and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). His family later moved to South Africa where he was schooled at Highbury Preparatory School{{Cite web|url=https://technomag.co.zw/2018/04/24/pivotal-software-listed-on-nyse/|title=Pivotal Software Listed On NYSE|author=Staff Writer|date=2018-04-24|website=TechnoMag|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810055223/https://technomag.co.zw/2018/04/pivotal-software-listed-on-nyse/|url-status=dead}} and Hilton College.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiltoncollege.com/assets/Newsletters/General/Future-of-Hilton-Interactive-FINAL-2506.pdf|title=Hilton College _ Old Boys|access-date=27 November 2019|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623070515/https://www.hiltoncollege.com/assets/Newsletters/General/Future-of-Hilton-Interactive-FINAL-2506.pdf|url-status=dead}} He received a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Natal, and a B.Sc. (Hons) degree, also in Computer Science, from the University of Cape Town in 1977.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
Career
After finishing his graduate studies, Maritz had a programming job with Burroughs Corporation and later became a researcher at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, before moving to Silicon Valley in 1981 to join Intel.{{cite news |author= Steve Lohr |url= http://partners.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/01/biztech/articles/25soft.html |title= Paul Maritz: Microsoft's Star Antitrust Witness |work= New York Times |date= January 25, 1999 |accessdate= October 3, 2013 }} He worked for Intel for five years, including developing early tools to help developers write software for the then-new x86 platform, before joining Microsoft in 1986.{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2159573/vmware-ceo-paul-maritz-leaves-behind-a-vision-of-it-transformation.html|title=VMware CEO Paul Maritz Leaves Behind a Vision of IT Transformation|last=Olavsrud|first=Thor|date=2012-08-29|website=Network World|language=en|access-date=2019-11-27}}
= Microsoft =
From 1986 to 2000, he worked at Microsoft and was on its executive committee. He became executive vice president of the Platforms Strategy and Developer Group and part of the 5-person executive management team.{{Cite web|url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/one-on-one-paul-maritz-vmware-chief-executive/|title=One on One: Paul Maritz, VMware Chief Executive|last=Hardy|first=Quentin|date=2012-02-07|website=Bits Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}} He was often said to be the third-ranking executive, behind Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. He was responsible for essentially all of Microsoft's desktop and server software, including such major initiatives as the development of Windows 95, Windows NT, and Internet Explorer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/pictures/top-execs-once-at-microsoft-where-are-they-now-pictures/11/|title=Top execs once at Microsoft: Where are they now? (pictures)|last=Martin|first=James|website=CNET|language=en|access-date=2019-11-27}}
He was the highest-ranking executive to testify at the antitrust trial of Microsoft in 1999.
While at Microsoft, Maritz was credited with originating the term "eating your own dogfood" also known as dogfooding.Inside Out: Microsoft—In Our Own Words ({{ISBN|0446527394}}){{cite news|url=http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/317315/vmworld_2009_virtualization_controversy_eating_your_own_dog_food/?fp=39&fpid=25874&rid=1|title=VMworld 2009: Virtualization, controversy and eating your own dog food|last=Brodkin|first=John|date=4 September 2009|work=Network World|accessdate=17 May 2010}} Quote: "[Paul] Maritz also poked fun at himself by claiming that one of his only contributions to the IT world is coining the commonly used "eat your own dog food" phrase.
In July 1999, he announced he would have a reduced role at Microsoft,{{cite news |title = Microsoft's Maritz to take lesser role |date = July 28, 1999 |work= CNet news |url= http://news.cnet.com/Microsofts-Maritz-to-take-lesser-role/2100-1001_3-229112.html |accessdate= October 3, 2013 }} and resigned in September 2000 around the announcement of Windows ME.{{cite news |title = Microsoft Loses Another Key Executive |date = September 14, 2000 |work= CNet news |author1=Sandeep Junnarkar |author2=Mike Ricciuti |url= http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft+loses+another+key+executive/2100-1001_3-245711.html |accessdate= May 30, 2016 }}
According to Steve Ballmer Maritz was "truly a leader among leaders". Bill Gates stated that "Paul's vision and technological insight has had a major impact not only on Microsoft but on the entire computer industry."{{cite news |title = Paul Maritz to Retire After 14 Years at Microsoft |date = September 13, 2000 |url= http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2000/sept00/maritzpr.aspx}}
In October 2013, he was reported to again be under consideration to become chief executive of Microsoft, succeeding Ballmer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/08/technology/gatess-future-fuels-speculation-as-microsoft-seeks-new-chief.html?_r=0|title=Gates's Future Fuels Speculation as Microsoft Seeks New Chief|author=Nick Wingfield|date=October 8, 2013|work=New York Times|accessdate=October 9, 2013}}
= Pi Corporation =
He then co-founded, and was CEO of Pi Corporation, a company backed by Warburg Pincus, which developed software for Linux with development in Bangalore, India.{{Cite web |title= The Pi Team |work= PI Corporation executive bios |url= http://www.picorp.com/about/execbios.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071213080729/http://www.picorp.com/about/execbios.htm |archive-date= December 13, 2007 |accessdate= October 3, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= Computer Hardware & Software: Opening Up Windows |author= Daniel Lyons |work= Forbes Magazine |date= June 23, 2006 |url= https://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/06/23/linux_vista_open_cz_dl_0623linux.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060718072128/http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/06/23/linux_vista_open_cz_dl_0623linux.html |archive-date= July 18, 2006 |accessdate= October 9, 2013 }}
When Pi was acquired by EMC in February 2008, Maritz briefly became president and general manager of EMC Corporation's cloud computing division.{{Cite news |title= EMC Acquisition of Pi Corporation, Developer of Personal Information Management Technology |work= Press Release |publisher= EMC Corporation |date= February 21, 2008 | url=http://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2008/20080221-01.htm |accessdate= October 9, 2013 }}
= VMware =
On July 8, 2008, he was appointed CEO of VMware{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/04/25/lessons-learned-in-the-first-decade-of-building-a-tech-company/|title=Lessons Learned In The First Decade Of Building A Tech Company|last=Rohrer|first=J. Tyler|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-05-07}} (a public company majority-owned by EMC), replacing co-founder and CEO Diane Greene. While CEO, company sales and profits tripled by mid-2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2018/12/10/the-windy-road-behind-vmwares-15-year-road-to-corporate-greatness/|title=The 15-Year Odyssey Behind VMware's Ascent To Corporate Greatness|last=Gara|first=Antoine|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2018-12-28}} He was succeeded as CEO by Pat Gelsinger on September 1, 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emc-announces-preliminary-q2-financial-results-and-new-executive-appointments-162768796.html |title= VMware Announces Change in Executive Leadership |publisher=VMware |date=2012-07-25 |accessdate=2012-07-24}}
= GoPivotal =
In April 2013, he was announced as the CEO of GoPivotal, Inc. (Pivotal), a venture funded by General Electric (GE), EMC and VMware which he led until August 2015.{{Cite news |title= Pivotal's Audacious Plan |date= April 24, 2013 |author= Quentin Hardy |work= New York Times Bits |url= http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/pivotals-audacious-plan/ |accessdate= October 3, 2013 }}
After his resignation he announced that he would stay the CEO of Pivotal and mentor other companies in which he has invested. He also wants to work for Mifos, a financial services startup, that targets developing countries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/19/paul_maritz_retires_from_pivotal_says_his_time_as_a_manager_is_over/|title=Paul Maritz retires from Pivotal, says his time as a manager is over|last=at 01:58|first=Simon Sharwood 19 Aug 2015|website=www.theregister.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}
= Mifos =
Maritz is chairman of Mifos, an open source financial software platform.{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2016/tech-vet-paul-maritz-joins-boldiq-board-sees-new-era-smart-scheduling-demand-economy/|title=Tech vet Paul Maritz joins BoldIQ board, sees new era of smart scheduling for on-demand economy|date=2016-03-08|website=GeekWire|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-24}} For some time he was the only source of financial support for the initiative.{{Cite web|url=https://mifos.org/blog/portfolio-item/paul-maritz/|title=Paul Maritz|website=Mifos Initiative|date=7 June 2014 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-24}}
= Acronis =
In October 2021, Maritz was named as the chairman of the board of directors for Acronis.{{Cite web |title=Acronis announces technology veteran Paul Maritz as Chairman of the Board |url=https://techxmedia.com/acronis-announces-technology-veteran-paul-maritz-as-chairman-of-the-board/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=techxmedia.com/ |date=26 October 2021 |language=en-GB}} Maritz is in charge of Acronis’ governance and leadership as the company enhances its position in the service provider industry and prepares for further expansion.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-19 |title=Acronis appoints new board chairman |url=https://www.iteuropa.com/news/acronis-appoints-new-board-chairman |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=ITEuropa |language=en}}
Other activities
Maritz was an angel investor in Apture.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-text-media-links-service-apture-gets-41-million-funding/|title=In-Text Media Links Service Apture Gets $4.1 Million Funding|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=17 March 2009 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}}
He is the chairman of the board of the Grameen Foundation, which provides microfinance support and sponsors third-world development projects.{{Cite web|url=http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail4774.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729201509/http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail4774.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-07-29|title=Paul Maritz, Marc Benioff, Andy Jassy {{!}} Point of Control: The Cloud|date=2013-07-29|access-date=2019-11-27}}
Maritz is interested in wildlife issues and helps developing countries to use technology to improve life.
Recognition
In 2010, Paul Maritz was named by CRN the number one Most Influential Executive of 2010.{{cite news |url= http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/channel-programs/228300259/the-25-most-influential-executives-of-2010.htm/pgno/0/1 |title= The 25 Most Influential Executives Of 2010}}
In 2011, Maritz won the Morgan Stanley Leadership Award for Global Commerce.{{cite news|url=http://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/CWHONORS2011/21133/ |title=2011 Morgan Stanley Leadership Award Winner |publisher=Computerworld |accessdate=2011-10-11}} As well in 2011, the Silicon Valley Business Journal announced Paul Maritz as the Executive of the Year.{{cite news |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/2011/12/executive-of-the-year-vmware-ceo-paul.html?page=all |publisher=Business Journal |author= Diana Samuels |title= Executive of the Year: VMware CEO Paul Maritz |date= December 30, 2011 |accessdate= October 3, 2013 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web | title=Grameen Foundation USA Advisory Councils | accessdate=19 May 2007 | url=http://www.grameenfoundation.org/who_we_are/our_people/board_members/paul_maritz/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070503123503/http://www.grameenfoundation.org/who_we_are/our_people/board_members/paul_maritz/ |archive-date = 3 May 2007}}
- {{cite news | title=Corner Office NYTimes Interview| accessdate=12 December 2010 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/business/03corner.html?_r=1&ref=paul_maritz | work=The New York Times | first=Adam | last=Bryant | date=2 October 2010}}
- {{cite web| title=Number One Most Influential Executive Of 2010| accessdate=23 December 2010| url=http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/channel-programs/228300259/the-25-most-influential-executives-of-2010.htm;jsessionid=26XmA-nnItdh-2OX7xVQsg**.ecappj01?pgno=2| archive-date=12 September 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912165947/http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/channel-programs/228300259/the-25-most-influential-executives-of-2010.htm;jsessionid=26XmA-nnItdh-2OX7xVQsg**.ecappj01?pgno=2| url-status=dead}}
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Category:White Rhodesian people
Category:Zimbabwean people of Dutch descent
Category:American people of Afrikaner descent
Category:Zimbabwean emigrants to the United States
Category:University of Cape Town alumni
Category:Alumni of Hilton College (South Africa)
Category:Academics of the University of St Andrews
Category:American technology chief executives
Category:American technology company founders
Category:American computer programmers
Category:American chairpersons of corporations
Category:University of Natal alumni
Category:Burroughs Corporation people