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Oracle CFO Leaves after Four Months of Service

An anonymous reader writes "Oracle's CFO and Co-President Greg Maffei has quit. He will be succeeded by Safra Catz, who has been with Oracle for a while, and it will be interesting to see how long she lasts. Before Maffei, Harry You was CFO for 9 months, and before him was Jeff Henley. What's with the CFO shuffle at Oracle?"

45 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Money by msbsod · · Score: 5, Funny

    CFO's earn so much that 9 months are enough for the rest of their life.

    1. Re:Money by DurendalMac · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Or maybe it's because Larry Ellison is an even bigger asshole than Steve Jobs...

  2. CFO Leaving is bad news. by catwh0re · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When the CFO leaves, it's usually because they think they're in a sinking ship.

    1. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Or they want to leave before they get indicted. If a CFO leaves just before a quarterly report, it generally means he is resigning to avoid committing perjury by signing a report he knows to be false. I beleive this report was intentionally delayed also, which is further evidence that there might be statements in the report that nobody wants to sign their name to.

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    2. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 4, Funny

      "When the CFO leaves, it's usually because they think they're in a sinking ship."

      Yeah, Oracles obviously in the direst of direly dire straights....
      I mean really rough times...
      Yes, the shio is sinking!

      I suspect Netcraft will confirm Oracles death any moment now.

    3. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by dekemoose · · Score: 2, Funny

      Isn't it a realtively well known fact that Ellison is a bastard to work for?

    4. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by geekoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

      well, if they are trying to create deceptive profit reports, that would be a good reason a CFO would leave. It would also indicate a problem with the company.

      Not saying they are sinking, but don't just assume there not having issues. Everyone thought Enron was in good shape, until the very last minute.

      Now we have Sarbanes Oxley, a good reason for CFO to not look the other way.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    5. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by canuck57 · · Score: 2, Informative

      When the CFO leaves, it's usually because they think they're in a sinking ship.

      No fooling, it is not a good sign. See NorTel .... when CFOs leave early it is not good. When they have been there awhile and get a better offier this is good.

      So the question is how far will the stock drop... -0.28 (2.24%) for the day... bet more is to follow.

    6. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by queenb**ch · · Score: 4, Interesting

      High turn over in upper management means:

      1) Legal fears - criminal or civil

      2) Another C-level guy that no one can stand

      3) Company is tanking

      My personal vote is for #2 and I suspect his initials are L.E.

      2 cents,

      Queen B

      --
      HDGary secures my bank :/
    7. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by Dwonis · · Score: 3, Insightful

      MSFT is a sinking ship, but it's a vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big ship that will take an equally long time to sink -- long enough that it might end up being repaired before it's too late. :P

    8. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by marktoml · · Score: 3, Insightful

      More to the point he is not one to turn over control or let go of the rudder--even slightly. I rather doubt the CFO was allowed to do much and thus felt they couldn't be fully effective. Until he finds one that suits him the way Henley did (i.e. one he will let do the job) the shuffle will undoutedly continue.

    9. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by khallow · · Score: 4, Informative

      He spent 7 years at MS and 5 years as CEO of 360networks which tanked (he took it through bankrupcy court. So he doesn't have a flighty record or a record of bailing out when the going gets rough. If I were an Oracle shareholder, I'd want to know why Oracle can't keep CFO talent.

    10. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by Nutria · · Score: 3, Informative

      MSFT is a sinking ship, but it's a vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big ship that will take an equally long time to sink -- long enough that it might end up being repaired before it's too late. :P

      I love Linux just as much as the next guy (and has been my only home desktop for 5 years), but unlike DEC & Sun, MSFT's revenue keeps on increasing at an incredible pace.

      When they have flat (not declining, but flat) revenues for 3 straight years, then I'll believe that it's sinking.

      http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=MSFT&annual
      http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=MSFT&annual
      http://finance.yahoo.com/q/cf?s=MSFT&annual

      --
      "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    11. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Or 4) they are in legal trouble. Like just happened in my company. Sigh. Enrons will always be around.

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    12. Re:CFO Leaving is bad news. by einhverfr · · Score: 2, Insightful

      well, if they are trying to create deceptive profit reports, that would be a good reason a CFO would leave. It would also indicate a problem with the company.

      Yeah, I my first thought was "Securities Fraud" but I don't know what is going on there well enough to know.

      Now, it doesn't mean that the company is sinking, but I have absolutely no intention of purchasing any Oracle stock in the reasonable future.

      Regarding Enron, a good part of the issue was Fastow, who was siphoning off all of Enron's solid investments, leaving them with the crap, and cooking the books to cover his trail. The more I have looked into Enron, the more I have become convinced that embezzlement was one of two root cause of the collapse (the other was energy market manipulation which would have likely brought them down as well). In Enron's case, the books were not cooked to keep the stock price up. They were cooked to cover other illegal activity.

      --

      LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  3. One Word: by Doktor+Memory · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Larry"

    --

    News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters? Like hell.

    1. Re:One Word: by kawabago · · Score: 2, Funny

      prefixed with Leisuresuit please!

    2. Re:One Word: by Scaba · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, no - they keep getting hired away by Hank Scorpio of Globex Corporation.

    3. Re:One Word: by Scaba · · Score: 2, Interesting

      By strange coincidence, that episode aired exactly nine years ago today.

  4. CFO shuffle? by ral315 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "What's with the CFO shuffle at Oracle?" We didn't mean to cause any trouble; We're just doin' the CFO Shuffle.

    1. Re:CFO shuffle? by rob_squared · · Score: 4, Funny

      Please do not eat CFO Shuffle.

      --
      I don't get it.
  5. Not a good sign... by csmacd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    CFOs depart quickly because they see tyranical leadership, bad financial situation, or both. Sounds like there are some serious problems in Oracle's financial sector.

    --
    Don't pick up the pho*(@)$*@&@!@ NO CARRIER
  6. Dirty Kitchen by Deathbane27 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I imagine Oracle's financials are like a messy kitchen. Cleaning it doesn't sound like too bad of a job until you actually walk in and see it... Yes, I live in a bachelor pad.

    --
    If it ain't broke, it needs more features!
  7. Up close and personal with Biker Spike by wintermute42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What's with the CFO shuffle at Oracle?

    Oh, nothing more than fear of doing jail time.

    Seriously, after Tyco, WorldCom and Enron, a CFO that is asked to support accounting that might be considered questionable bears some serious risks (as they should). The compensation just does not justify the risk of jail time. At least not for your typical CFO.

  8. Life at Oracle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Posting anonymously 'cause I still want a job...
    I've been consulting for Oracle for a couple years now and I'm not surprised by this. I get reorg'ed every three months at the minimum, I can't count the number of managers I've had since I've been working here - most know my name only by my expense reports. Every so often my cell phone rings and the voice on the other end says "Hi, I'm ****, your new manager." Why would it be any different in the adminisphere?
    I've worked for companies big and small over the years and while the job has its good points, the constant turnover isn't one of them

    1. Re:Life at Oracle by gentlemoose · · Score: 5, Informative

      I was with Oracle for 5 years. As I'm no longer with them, I don't fear for my job. AC up there, however, as an Oracle consultant, good call.

      Oracle reorgs its stovepipes annually, and there are divisional and departmental reorgs that shake out for months at a time in the aftermath of the larger reorgs. It happens. No big deal.

      Safra, I encountered once. Not.the.most.pleasant.experience.of.my.life.

    2. Re:Life at Oracle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I left Oracle as a sysadmin after only 2 months on the job in their flagship datacenter. The entire organization from the top down is ruled by fear. Fear of the guy above you. I was in constant concern for my job the entire time, not because I couldn't perform, but afraid that I would do something politically wrong. And I was just a sysadmin!

      It sucked, bigtime. Though they did have a crazy amount of servers and a whole buttload of technology.

      Everything was to be feared, however.

    3. Re:Life at Oracle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      After having worked at least 60 hours so far this week, I read your first line -- no joke -- as:

      "I left Oracle as a sysadmin after only 2 months on the job as a pole dancer."

      I thought, "Woohoo ... great, a troll that might actually be an amusing joke. I could use a joke right about now."

      Then I realized I really have to ditch this job that I'm working so much at every week to the point that I'm starting to see things that just aren't there. Hafta wonder though ... pole dancer?! Where the hell is my mind right now???

      But yah, that would've made for a heck of a funny story...

    4. Re:Life at Oracle by patricksevenlee · · Score: 2, Funny
      Safra, I encountered once. Not.the.most.pleasant.experience.of.my.life.

      So give us the dirt on Safra, why wasn't it pleasant? I Googled for her picture. She looks cute.

  9. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  10. Guilt by lucm · · Score: 5, Interesting
    One just can't buy an Oracle database license. Accountants, lawyers and engineers must be involved to find out what insane amounts you will have to feed the monster every year. Basically, it's cheaper to have a SQL Server 4-processor license than hiring the experts required to calculate your Oracle yearly premium for the same hardware.

    So my guess is that either the CFOs feel bad about selling incredibly overpriced products, or they just plain don't understand how the hell they can manage all these crazy contracts.

    When Microsoft licensing is the low-cost alternative to your product, there is something terribly wrong.

    --
    lucm, indeed.
    1. Re:Guilt by geekoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

      except MSs product is not in the same league as Oracle.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Guilt by duffbeer703 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Have you ever used Oracle? Its a bigger steaming pile of shit than Lotus Notes, and that says alot.

      Oracle can do amazing things. But with the money you need to spend on Oracle consultants, you could custom-write whatever you are buying from Oracle.

      --
      Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
  11. Re:Chief of Fucking Off by TrappedByMyself · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's very simple. CFO stands for "Chief of Fucking Off." Their job is to get hired, sit around for a few days, and then fuck off and look somewhere else for a job.

    Sounds like most of the programmers I've worked with over the years. Similar to the sysadmins too, however they download porn instead of looking for jobs.

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    Help me take back Slashdot. When did 'News for Nerds' become 'FUD and Conspiracy Theories for Extremist Nutjobs'?
  12. Furry Me by Swamii · · Score: 3, Funny

    Harry You

    There's gotta be a joke in there somewhere.

    --
    Tech, life, family, faith: Give me a visit
  13. Error in article. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    > You was CFO for 9 months

    What? No I wasn't.

  14. Larry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    For some reason the CFOs have found it disturbing that Larry expects them to cut off their pinky if there are profit warnings :)

  15. Because Larry Ellison is God. by gelfling · · Score: 2, Funny

    First rule of Oracle: Larry Ellison is God. You are not God. Disagreements with God will be answered by plagues.

  16. Oracles CFO by pookemon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe they couldn't stand the financial package... ;)

    --
    dnuof eruc rof aixelsid
  17. Oracle CFO Leaves after Four Months of Service. by cgenman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oracle CFO Leaves after Four Months of Service.

    He must have finally gotten a database up and running.

  18. As an Oracle employee, by Andrew+Tanenbaum · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I am wondering if anyone has information on how compensation, particularily any exit bonuses he received. There have been rumors about layoffs lately, so I would be apalled if the money he took would be enough to fund those employees.

  19. It's Larry Ellison by cornice · · Score: 3, Funny

    Q - What's the difference between God and Larry Ellison?

    A - God doesn't think he's Larry Ellison.

  20. Re:Old Microsoft Money Wizard by toddbu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    He was also the last well-respected Microsoft CFO. While Maffei was in charge, Microsoft could literally do nothing wrong financially. When the earnings were announced, he'd say something like "don't expect good results next quarter" and the stock would skyrocket. When Connors replaced him, it was almost the exact opposite. Connors would say virtually the same thing, and the stock would tank. Microsoft has definitely suffered from the leadership vacuum that Maffei's departure left.

    --
    If you don't want crime to pay, let the government run it.
  21. Measuring The Depth Of The Muck In Months. by Phat_Tony · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Who knows, maybe they've just had an unfortunate series of personal crises or similar unrelated coincidences that don't reflect poorly on the company.

    Or, maybe it takes from four to nine months to shovel to the bottom of the accounting muck at Oracle. At that point, a CFO reaches the inescapable conclusion that they must either:
    1. Issue a radical restatement of earnings for one or more previous quarters in their next financial report.
    2. Commit perjury.
    If the CEO and board disagree with the necessity of revising past financial statements, and the CFO doesn't feel like taking his chances with committing fraud (especially in the current post-scandel atmosphere), then it's time to shop for a new CFO. At the least, it will give the higher-ups a few more months to inconspicuously sell some stock while the next CFO's still busy shoveling.

    --
    Can anyone tell me how to set my sig on Slashdot?
  22. Byzantine licensing by obtuse · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Oracle: The company that sold the state of California more licenses than its entire work force. *

    I had fun when I bought an Oracle license for our developers, and got a follow-up call from a sales rep explaining why I hadn't actually bought a valid license. After I explained exactly how we were testing and considering deploying Oracle, he went into hilarious detail about how much the licenses we needed would cost. Actually, at first he just alluded to all the different aspects of licensing we needed to worry about, but I pressed him for a quote, and he got back to me a few days later with a quote that took him a while to explain. All of this for the smallest possible dev environment.

    I began this saying that I had fun. The fun part was saying truthfully, "Obviously then, we won't be developing any product with Oracle. There are other databases that will meet our needs."

    I'll bet their salesmen get a lot of un-sales that way.

    * Turns out that California was not unusual. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-923127.html

    --
    Assembly is the reverse of disassembly.