Barneveld, The Netherlands November 25, 2002 Enterprise software provider Baan today said it is creating a worldwide solution sales and delivery organization to integrate its sales initiatives on a global basis.
Susan Heystee, formerly president of Baan Americas, will head the new organization as executive vice president for worldwide solution sales and delivery.
"More and more industrial companies are faced with the challenges of operating manufacturing facilities in multiple regions of the world," Heystee said in a Baan statement. "This creates daunting challenges for executives who are also under great competitive pressure to reduce costs, reduce cycle times and increase profits."
Heystee said the new unit would build on Baan's network of local staff while taking advantage of the benefits of a worldwide organization to help companies meet the new challenges of a global economy.
Commenting on the latest move by Baan, Katherine Jones, managing director for enterprise applications at technology consultancy Aberdeen Group, said: "As a company with a well-established global operation, Baan has vast experience addressing the special challenges facing companies with international operations. By organizing their sales and delivery operations internationally, Baan is well-positioned to take full advantage of this unique insight for the benefit of their customers."
Heystee became president of Baan Americas in February 2001 and led the company through a rejuvenation that Baan attributes at least in part to Heystee's identification of the need among industrial companies for a consultative relationship with the software application providers.
Prior to being named Baan Americas president, Heystee was senior vice president of field operations, where she was responsible for sales and consulting in the Americas. She also has served as vice president of Baan Americas services. Heystee joined Baan in 1997 as vice president of the Baan Americas consulting practice. She has more than 16 years experience in the enterprise software market.
