Opera announces new CEO
By Jon S. von TetzchnerJon. Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:06:17 AM
The new year often brings with it a series of changes, some large and some small. I would like to share one change at Opera with you all. After 15 wonderful years leading Opera as its Chief Executive Officer, I have decided the time is right to move into a free, more independent role within the company I co-founded along with my friend, Geir Ivarsøy.
This means, of course, that Opera will have a new CEO. Moving into that role is Lars Boilesen, Opera's current Chief Commercial Officer.
I have known Lars for many years. He originally worked at Opera from 2000-2005. He helped shepherd our transition from a company that made a desktop Web browser into a Web browsing leader on all platforms. It was a sad day when he left to join Alcatel-Lucent. In 2009, I lured him back to us. Now I have given him what I consider to be the greatest job on Earth.
I step aside knowing Opera is in great hands. Lars has a deep belief in the power of our mission to bring the best Web browsing experience to people everywhere. He inherits a focused company ready for big things. We are in a strong financial position. We have great products (have you tried the pre-alpha of Opera 10.50 yet?). We have 800 talented employees around the world. And of course we have you, the people for whom we work so hard to make great products.
Over the years I have been fortunate to meet many of you. I have traveled far and wide to tell our story and have listened to yours as well. You have told me how much Opera has meant to you and how it has helped your life. Hearing your stories and learning from you has enriched my life beyond all measure. You have motivated and inspired me. For that, I offer my most humble thanks. The Opera community has been, and shall always be, an important part of my life.
I wish you all a joyous New Year and success in whatever endeavors, great and small, the future holds for you.
Kær kvedja,
Jon



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Alexislexiz08 # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:15:11 AM
Aleksander AasAleksander # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:20:37 AM
Sami Serolaserola # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:23:35 AM
Paolo Veceplovec # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:27:55 AM
DemoJameson # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:28:53 AM
dirkthetomster # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:30:56 AM
Tamil # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:31:18 AM
Originally posted by serola:
serious # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:51:11 AM
but hey, we have a proverb here: quit when it's funniest
Pallab DeIndyan # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:53:25 AM
ouzowtfouzoWTF # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:59:51 AM
Originally posted by serola:
Marcinmtrusz # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 9:03:38 AM
Ice ArdorIceArdor # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 9:06:52 AM
Good luck Lars. Jon left some pretty big shoes for you to fill. I have full confidence that the Opera that I know will only get better.
kjlamuro # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 9:20:01 AM
Øzikzakatak # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 9:33:58 AM
perhaps a new project under the sun??...I'm sure it is.
good luck.
AndyHadraniel # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 9:54:00 AM
But let's hope for the best.
Thank's Jon and good luck Lars!
walterbugscout # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 9:54:40 AM
Dark FurieFurie # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:20:02 AM
Stanleyfreerider # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:40:43 AM
ErikshaktiIIIgta # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:40:56 AM
Originally posted by Hadraniel:
couldnt have said it better ...man i think many hope for the best to
...hope he comes back with a nice idea
mistressEVILmissevilat # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:49:56 AM
ChristopherChristo1989 # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:04:45 AM
ritmocafe # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:16:16 AM
I say that a wonderful move! Hope you don't focus marketing and forget the technology that has earnt you your loyal fans
Purdi # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:16:41 AM
Originally posted by Hadraniel:
Yeah, GOD FORBID a company focuses on making money, and on long term viability! Damn CAPITALIST PIGS with their EVIL MONEY MAKING!
ritmocafe # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:17:05 AM
I say that a wonderful move! Hope you don't focus marketing and forget the technology that has earnt you your loyal fans
Dan Alexandrudantesoft # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:18:49 AM
Does it have anything to do with your promise to have the browser running on 10 year old computers ? I suspect your 90s computer can't handle version 10.50
Marcelo Javierpunkesito # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:27:44 AM
johnnysaucepn # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:34:20 AM
Thanks for everything you've done so far, Jon - and here's to your turn at the top, Lars!
Aux # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 11:58:20 AM
So I'm very thankful to everyone at Opera Software! Enjoy your "vacation"! But I hope you will stay with us no matter what!
AndyHadraniel # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 12:20:47 PM
Originally posted by Purdi:
Please try to think before you post, and perform a reality-check(tm).
MAKING MONEY and "long term viability" tend to be more and more oppositional goals, not limited to financial industry - and spreading...
I am well aware of running a company does rely on both technology (creating a product) and marketing (selling the product, generating income), but focusing on marketing instead of technology for sure does not achieve long term viability.
Luxor # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 12:22:26 PM
Originally posted by plovec:
And so say all of us.
Diego Schildtekonaza # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 12:25:28 PM
Originally posted by serola:
Yeah!
Abhinavdecodedthought # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 12:25:55 PM
Purdi # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 12:44:57 PM
Originally posted by Hadraniel:
Nonsense. Making money IS what makes a company viable in the long run. Opera NEEDS to make money.
You are talking a bunch of ignorant nonsense. Marketing is what works. Marketing is CRUCIAL. A crappy product can win on marketing alone. Just look at the way Chrome is growing purely because Google is using its online ad monopoly to spam everyone all the time.
AndyHadraniel # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:04:52 PM
Originally posted by Purdi:
You prefer a prospering Opera company with a crappy product over a company with an excellent product and economical success not being first priority (which does NOT mean, working for free and the love of people)?
I use Opera, I am not an investor. I don't care about their market share. The product is my first and only priority. If Opera's product will - not necessarily but possibly - detoriate due to shifting on other company tasks, there will be other browsers to step in. And it will be a sad day, scince I use Opera scince 10 years now as primary browser.
Anyway, either you are a rude troll accusing me being a troll, or you are just a rude dipshit lacking open-mindness and respect for other point of views. Twit-filter engaged.
Sami Serolaserola # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:21:25 PM
Linhbrokenheartvn # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:26:52 PM
Abhinavdecodedthought # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:29:28 PM
Originally posted by Purdi:
very true
Purdi # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:40:48 PM
Originally posted by Hadraniel:
Your blatant racism-like bigotry against people who are not engineers is quite disturbing. You are evidently oblivious to the fact that a company needs to make money to survive. You are also bigoted enough to assume that the new guy will mess things up just because he has a different background than you. Racism indeed.
And if Opera doesn't make money, it will die!
WOFall # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:48:40 PM
Романаборо # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:51:58 PM
serious # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:53:40 PM
Sushubh # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 1:53:49 PM
Daned4n3 # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 2:47:22 PM
Originally posted by Hadraniel:
That's like saying they'll make more money by making a worse product...
As far as consumer versions of Opera are concerned (Desktop, mini, mobile), innovation is the one thing that will sell the products because of the stiff competition in this arena.
I think Haavard said it well:
Originally posted by Haavard:
In other words, he's letting the company be run by an experienced CEO and still retaining his seat as a driving force behind opera's innovation.
EDIT: I never meant to say Jon was inexperienced
Google's founders also stepped down from the CEO role quite a while ago.
zoquete # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 2:56:04 PM
zoquete # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:09:34 PM
E i V i n DEivindd # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:22:30 PM
Welcome Lars..looking forward to see your work
zoquete # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:23:26 PM
Charles SchlossChas4 # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:29:50 PM
Originally posted by Tamil:
Aleksander AasAleksander # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:40:07 PM
Originally posted by Hadraniel:
Jon has not been "Replaced" Jon will remain in Opera in a more free role with his new title being Co-Founder!
Originally posted by ritmocafe:
Jon or Opera will in no way forget the fans!
Originally posted by johnnysaucepn:
In fact they have worked together in Opera for a long time and know each other well!
Originally posted by WOFall:
+1
Originally posted by d4n3:
Jon is a experienced CEO, and Opera will remain the innovative company we all know and love!
Originally posted by d4n3:
That's right! This is in fact more or less the exact same move
Please people: Be nice, this is a good thing and not the end of the world!
netwolf # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:47:57 PM