Network computing pioneer and former Novell chief
executive Ray Noorda has died aged 82.
Noorda was credited with building Novell, where he became chief
executive in 1983, into the key provider of network management
software before attempts to take on the might of Microsoft led to a
decline in the company's fortunes.
Noorda retired from Novell in 1995, setting up investment firm
the Canopy Group to back start-up companies.
Under Noorda's leadership, Novell grew from a business of 17
staff to more than 12,000 as its Netware networking software spread
across the world.
Noorda is also credited with innovations such as developing the
channel structure for software sales and promoting "co-opetition" -
alliances of competing firms that develop common technology
standards in order to boost the overall market for their
products.
Noorda's early life was very different, growing up the son of
Dutch immigrants during the Depression. He began his working life
picking cherries and herding sheep in Utah, before earning an
engineering degree at the University of Utah and becoming an
electrical engineer with General Electric.
Drew Major, co-founder of Novell, said, "Ray was a great mentor
not only was he respected and appreciated by those who partnered
with him but also by those who competed against him. Ray Noorda
left a legacy of connecting computers and people and companies
together."