Business Objects' Founder, Bernard Liautaud, Resigns as Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer Following Close of Business Objects

  
    
  
  
    
      Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ) (Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - 
      BOB), the world’s leading provider of business 
      intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced that Bernard Liautaud, the 
      company’s founder, has resigned his duties as 
      Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO).
    
    
      At its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in June 2008, the SAP 
      Supervisory Board intends to propose to elect Bernard Liautaud to the 
      SAP Supervisory Board. Until that time, Mr. Liautaud will have an 
      advisory role to Henning Kagermann, CEO of SAP, on aspects of strategy 
      and integration. This announcement is pursuant to the organizational 
      changes announced following SAP’s acquisition 
      of Business Objects (link to http://www.sap.com/usa/company/press/press.epx?pressid=8734).
    
    
      “The industry I helped create almost two 
      decades ago has changed dramatically over the years, and I am very proud 
      to say that Business Objects has consistently been a pioneer in bringing 
      innovation to the market,” said Liautaud. “The 
      vision we started out with is now a reality and the need for business 
      intelligence has become pervasive across enterprises large and small. 
      This industry is now at a tipping point and I am confident that, 
      together with SAP, Business Objects will continue to innovate and help 
      transform the way the world works by connecting people, information and 
      businesses.”
    
    
      Bernard Liautaud cofounded Business Objects in 1990 and was chief 
      executive officer until September 2005, when he brought the Company to 
      the one billion dollar revenue mark. Liautaud took the company public on 
      NASDAQ in September 1994, and established a precedent by making Business 
      Objects the first French software company listed in the United States. 
      Since that time, Liautaud led Business Objects through 15 successful 
      years of growth and profitability, transforming the Company into one of 
      the 15 largest software companies in the world and the clear leader in 
      the business intelligence market. In parallel to his successful 
      stewardship of Business Objects, he created the Business Objects 
      Foundation to channel employee and corporate philanthropic activities 
      into communities around the world.
    
    
      About Business Objects
    
    
      Business Objects has been a pioneer in business intelligence (BI) since 
      the dawn of the category. Today, as the world’s 
      leading BI software company, Business Objects transforms the way the 
      world works through intelligent information. The company helps 
      illuminate understanding and decision-making at more than 46,000 
      organizations around the globe. Through a combination of innovative 
      technology, global consulting and education services, and the industry’s 
      strongest and most diverse partner network, Business Objects enables 
      companies of all sizes to make transformative business decisions based 
      on intelligent, accurate, and timely information.
    
    
      Business Objects has dual headquarters in San Jose, Calif., and Paris, 
      France. The company’s stock is traded on both 
      the Nasdaq (BOBJ) and Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0004026250 - BOB) stock 
      exchanges. More information about Business Objects can be found at www.businessobjects.com.