The US is sending troops to Saudi Arabia, the UK is sending ships, and the French have responded by undertaking not to drink Iraqi wine for the duration of the crisis. So says the chairman and chief executive of Dun & Bradstreet Software which recently held its UK user conference in Brighton. John Imlay’s style is more akin to the world of showbusiness than that of the software developer, but the users didn’t mind at all since these gatherings aren’t known for controversy and news – and if it all falls apart, he can follow a second career entertaining Uncle Sam’s boys in the Gulf. Jesting aside, Imlay’s message is that the McCormack & Dodge and Management Science America partnership is progressing well after a difficult few months when the marriage was rocked by disagreements with McCormack & Dodge founder, Frank Dodge (CI No 1,384). Imlay says he can understand that Dodge was not happy with the new set-up and number two position after being his own man and top honcho. But that’s history and Imlay is more concerned with future developments. However, even if Imlay’s old golfing partner has been consigned to the past, he can’t shrug of the product inheritance and accusations that Dun & Bradstreet hasn’t a cohesive set of offerings. Imlay says that having two separate product lines is not a problem, and that the company intends to maintain the M and E Series, and provide full support to both. There will be a migration process, but that’s 10 years ahead. It doesn’t really answer the accusation that there is no one cohesive product line, but Imlay believes that existing customers have to be confident of continuing support, and he says MSA’s $130m and McCormack’s $100m contributions make it sensible to keep the two lines. Imlay acknowledges that the first few months of Dun & Bradstreet Software were difficult, and not least of these was the cut in staffing levels. The company has shed 400 employees and now employs 3,700, but Phil Edwards, UK managing director, claims that there were lay-offs in the UK. Imlay says that he expects to see the reorganisation bear fruit, and believes that Dun & Bradstreet Software is looking at $460m this year, which is ahead of target. – Janice McGinn