The New York Times > Technology > Software Firm to Name New Chief Executive

The New York Times > Technology > Software Firm to Name New Chief Executive: "Computer Associates International is expected to announce today that its new chief executive will be John Swainson, an I.B.M. executive with strong technical and sales credentials but who is untested in leading a business the size of Computer Associates, which has 15,000 employees.
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"In Computer Associates, nobody is going to snow him technically," said Frank Dzubeck, president of Communications Network Architects, a technology analysis firm in Washington. "Swainson is also very good with customers, and he will have to shore up relations with customers. There is a lot of dissatisfaction among corporate customers with Computer Associates."
Though his background is as a technologist, Mr. Swainson took naturally to courting customers, former colleagues say. A wine expert, he particularly enjoyed hosting wine tastings for customers, they recalled.
Yet Mr. Swainson must also prove himself as a chief executive. "You couldn't pick anyone more knowledgeable about software and software development," said John Patrick, a former I.B.M. executive who is president of Attitude L.L.C., a consulting firm. "The challenge will be on the business side.""