JBoss Founder Fleury Leaves Red Hat

Marc Fleury has resigned to "pursue other personal interests, such as teaching, research in biology, music and his family," Red Hat said in a statement Friday.

Though Fleury initially pledged to stay at the helm of the company he founded, which Red Hat structured as an independent subsidiary, rumors quickly spread of his dissatisfaction -- fueled by a public tongue-lashing Fleury administered over his perception that Red Hat wasn't delivering the R&D resources it had promised.

When Fleury went on paternity leave in December, company insiders speculated that he wouldn't return.

"I have done what I can to help Red Hat succeed," Fleury said Friday in a statement issued by Raleigh, N.C.-based Red Hat. "People need to understand that open source is a tsunami that is transforming the software industry in its wake, and its inevitability is now well beyond challenge or the force of individual personality."

The force of Fleury's personality made him a controversial but visible figure in the software industry. After JBoss put itself on the block, Oracle reportedly kicked the tires but walked away when it was unable to come to terms with JBoss on a price tag. Red Hat charged in and landed the pioneering open-source application server developer in a cash-and-stock deal worth a minimum of $350 million.