Sun Microsystems announces formation of emerging markets sales region to drive accelerated growth; Appoints new global sales leadership

Sun Microsystems has announced the formation of a new Emerging Markets sales geography to drive accelerated expansion and sales coverage across growing markets in South and Eastern Europe, Latin America, India and Greater China. Sun also announced the appointment of Peter Ryan as executive vice president of Sun's Global Sales and Services organization, reporting to Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's president and chief executive officer. The new Emerging Markets region will be led by Denis Heraud, Sun's senior vice president of Asia Pacific. Heraud will take on an expanded charter to lead the united Emerging Markets territory, reporting to Ryan. As part of Sun's most recent third quarter fiscal 2008 results, the company reported impressive growth in emerging markets including 20% year-over-year growth in Brazil, 30% year-over-year growth in India and 18% growth in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe region.

Effective immediately, Ryan will assume leadership of Sun's sales and services organization worldwide from Don Grantham, who will be leaving the company. Ryan previously served as senior vice president of Sun's Americas Sales Region, where he was responsible for Sun's revenues, margin and business objectives across Canada, Latin America and the United States. Prior to this role, Ryan was senior vice president of Sun's Global Sales and Services organization in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

In conjunction with the formation of the Emerging Markets region, Sun also announced a series of organizational leadership changes to accommodate the new sales geographic coverage model. Effective July 1, 2008 - the beginning of the Company's fiscal year 2009 – Lionel Lim will be promoted to senior vice president, taking over leadership of the Asia Pacific sales region from Heraud; Cheryl Cook will be promoted to senior vice president of the North America sales region, taking over from Ryan; the European region will remain under Alain Andreoli, senior vice president of Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA).

Sun Microsystems