Oh, Donna
by John Paczkowski
Posted on February 4, 2009 at 10:44 AM PT
With Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky founded Palm in 1992 and went on to become its CEO. She was part of the brains behind the Palm Pilot–the standard-setting personal digital assistant–upon which Palm (PALM) built its business. And she was integral to the development of Treo, the smartphone smash that Palm acquired from Handspring–the second company she founded with Hawkins.
Dubinksy has a long and storied history at Palm and one that will soon end. According to a recent SEC filing, she will soon resign from the company’s board of directors. Seems the $100 million Elevation Partners invested in Palm last year gives it the right to designate an additional director for election to the company’s board. But the board prefers to maintain its current size, so rather than add a new director it will replace one. And Dubinsky volunteered her spot. Queued up to replace her: Rajiv Dutta, former President of eBay Marketplaces and Executive VP of eBay (EBAY).
Comments
Pointy hair boss syndrome. She didn’t create the Palm Pilot, she just happened to be “in charge” when it dropped, was released, that doesn’t mean she was the brains behind it. Think MacIntosh®! Steve Jobs didn’t create the MacIntosh®, or Mac®, if you like, he just happened to be “in charge” when it dropped, was being created, was being developed. Speaking of Apple, Woz returns in an advisory role to re-stucture Apple, back to plan A, so to speak. So, reports the Merc News. That world be an interesting story/interview, John. What is Woz up to, if anything?!?! I predicted this three years ago. All I have to say is, “It took long enough!”.
Posted by Mark Omega at February 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pm