Page 111 - A Life - my Live - my path

IBM AS400 – Synon-2

At this meeting, IBM began by explaining that, after careful
consideration, they thought my proposal was a good way to
position themselves in this new CASE tool market. They also
explained that they had real constraints in creating a
company - quickly. As a result, they proposed to create a new
company, but with IRE and the distributor who was part of
the IBS group, the largest IBM agent in Europe, as the only
shareholders. IBM would not be a shareholder, but would
help us in all marketing activities.
Thus Case line PLC was born, and I became its managing
director. The company began operations in November 1988.

Anecdote: golden parachute
When CASE line was set up as a limited company, it

seemed obvious to me that management would be the
responsibility of a board of directors. I had worked on this
project to enable IRE to diversify, as requested by my boss,
the financial manager and the boss's right-hand man.
My desire was to continue working at the IRE as IT
Director and to represent the IRE on the CASE line
management committee. After a few weeks' discussion
with Synon-2's Belgian distributor, the IBS group ended
up giving my boss an ultimatum, demanding that I be the
full-time managing director.
I'd just turned 37, I was really confident about this project,
but I'd been working at the IRE for almost 13 years, I had
a great job and, above all, I loved what I was doing. My
boss, aware of the situation, made me the following
proposal:

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