Novell has reorganised its structure and management to align the business with its strategic objective to strengthen its position in Intelligent Workload Management (IWM) market, while continuing to develop collaboration offerings.

The company said that the changes are designed to streamline the organisation and focus on markets that leverage the company’s strengths to capture future opportunities for growth.

Effective January 1, 2010, the company will consolidate its operations from four business units down to two. The Identity and Security Management (ISM), Systems and Resource Management (SRM) and Open Platform Solutions (OPS) business units will be integrated to create the new Security, Management and Operating Platforms business unit.

The company said that the Jim Ebzery’s role will expand from senior vice president and general manager ISM offerings to senior vice president and general manager of the new business unit. Colleen O’Keefe, currently senior vice president of global services, will add to her responsibilities the new role of senior vice president and general manager of the new Collaboration Solutions business unit, responsible for the company’s workgroup and services businesses.

In addition, Joe Wagner will transition to a new role of senior vice president and general manager of Global Alliances. He will be responsible for the company’s strategic partnerships and developing an IWM partner ecosystem with cloud, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and telecommunications providers. The new business unit and alliance leaders will report directly to president and CEO Ron Hovsepian.

In their new roles, Ebzery and O’Keefe will have overall responsibility for product development and strategy in each business unit. On an interim basis, Jeff Jaffe, who has served for the last four years as CTO and executive vice president of the business units, has agreed to report to Hovsepian as a strategic advisor. Jaffe will then leave the company effective February 1, 2010. Roger Levy, who most recently has served as senior vice president of strategic development will also be leaving the company.

Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of Novell, said: This reorganisation is designed to transform Novell into a more focused, integrated and agile global company that will quickly capture a leadership position in the Intelligent Workload Management market.

“Consolidating into two business units will accelerate the ability of our talented executive team to execute on our IWM strategy while continuing to drive new opportunities in the collaboration market. The new Global Alliances organisation will help make sure we develop our growing network of strategic partners as we seek to gain leadership in the markets we serve.”