Shares in the IBM system house Macro 4 leapt 45 pence to a three year peak of 420 pence at the end of last week. And the reason for the market’s elation with the company? A simple announcement that Keith Piper, founder and executive chairman of the Crawley, UK-based company is to retire and the company is looking for a new CEO and chairman. Poor Piper has one consolation as a result of the market’s cruel judgement upon his ability. According to the Times, he owns 2.4 percent of the shares and the jump in price left him 221,000 pounds richer.
