New CEO Appointed at Open-Xchange

Co-founder and chairman of the board, Rafael Laguna has been named as the new CEO of open source collaboration software provider Open-Xchange. Richard Seibt and Berhard Woebker have also been appointed as new chairman of the board and new board member respectively.

Laguna instigated the technology venture between Open-Xchange’s development team and SUSE Linux resulting in SUSE Linux’s Openexchange Server becoming the greatest-selling Linux-based groupware solution, says the company. Lately, Laguna was vital to the expansion of Open-Xchange’s product portfolio and created the joint venture with Web hosting provider 1&1 Internet.

Laguna stated “Open-Xchange is positioned at the crossroads of three mega-trends: software as a service, open source and mobile devices. “Enterprises and system integrators have known for years the cost efficiencies and business benefits of Open-Xchange. Now, Open-Xchange also delivers what the telcos, hosters and service providers need to compete with Google, Microsoft, RIM and others to deliver higher level services to their customers.”

Existing Open-Xchange board member Seibt, a previous president of Novell EMEA and CEO of SUSE Linux, Seibt was an executive board member at United Internet replaces Laguna as chairman of the board. Joining Open-Xchange’s board of directors, Woebker is a consultant to a variety of investment banking and venture capital firms in Europe and the United States.

Last month saw collaboration between Nexthaus, the SyncML technology element of Web hosting provider Hostopia.com, and Open-Xchange to facilitate Open-Xchange Server 5 to sync contacts, calendars and tasks with Blackberry devices.