Ex-Suse CEO Seibt Exits Novell

Most recently, Seibt served as president of Novell EMEA, Novell's subsidiary for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He had been CEO of SUSE when Waltham, Mass.-based Novell acquired the German Linux distributor for $210 million in November 2003.

Seibt, well-respected by the Linux faithful and other techies, was thanked for his contributions to Novell, "especially in the transition and integration of the Suse Linux business," Novell Chairman and CEO Jack Messman said in a brief statement released Monday morning.

Markus Rex, vice president and general manager for Suse, still runs that business and is slated to relocate from Suse's Nuremberg, Germany, headquarters to Novell's base in Waltham, a company spokesman said. Sources close to Novell said Rex will continue to be managing director for Suse Linux products.

Ron Hovsepian, recently promoted to president of Novell's worldwide field operations, will assume Seibt's duties, according to Novell.

Novell has seen several high-profile executive exits in the past year. CTO Alan Nugent left earlier this year for Computer Associates International, and Vice Chairman Chris Stone left last fall.