Sun Microsystems Inc is going back to its roots for some inspiration. Co-founder Bill Joy is back on the frontline, having been appointed chief scientist. He’ll sit on the company’s executive committee. Sun didn’t get back to us to say what has happened to former chief scientist and director of its science office, John Gage. Nor do we know whether Joy will work out of his SunLabs base in Aspen, Colorado, or the company’s Silicon Valley home. Joy invented many key Sun technologies including the Sparc microprocessor and NFS and is credited with making Java happen. We think that Sun is hoping that Joy’s maxim: ‘expect innovation to happen elsewhere’ doesn’t apply in his new position. Sun also made Joseph Roebuck VP strategic sales, reporting to COO Ed Zander. Roebuck was formerly VP computer systems worldwide sales. VP Americas sales Frank Pinto gets Roebuck’s old job.
