Lenley Hensarling, the Group VP in charge of JD Edwards has been recruited away from Oracle to join a new venture with the working name C3.  I was told that it stands for something like Carbon Conscious Consumers.  Apparently C3 will focus on carbon reduction issues.  It is being led and financed by Tom Siebel, the founder of Siebel Systems which Oracle acquired in 2006. 

Hensarling was seemingly recruited by his old boss Ed Abbo, the former Siebel Systems CEO.  Abbo was running Oracle’s Applications business until he left earlier this summer.  From what we have pieced together so far, Abbo was enticed away from Oracle by Tom Siebel and then convinced Hensarling to join them. 

No details are available on what C3 hopes to become.  Its vision must be something extraordinary to attract executive talent like Abbo and Hensarling away from important roles within Oracle.  Tom Siebel appears to be joining the ranks of other wealthy businessmen who are using their fortunes to improve the world such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Ted Turner, Pete Peterson, and Gordon Moore.  It will be fun to follow the impact that this interesting combination of money, vision and talent has over time. 

Abbo and Hensarling have left to join a cause in which they believe and to follow a charismatic leader.  Oracle apparently tried to entice them to stay and we understand that the departures were completely friendly.  The departures should not be read as a signal that wrenching changes in application strategy are coming or that anything is seriously wrong within Oracle. 

Lenley Hensarling did a great job steering the JDE product line through its most dramatic transition following the Oracle takeover.  Our community will miss his vibrant leadership.  I am glad to see him contributing to a cause that I personally strongly support and wish him and everyone at C3 great success. 

Hensarling will be replaced by Lyle Ekdahl, currently the top product planner for JDE and the person that did much of the heavy lifting during Hensarling’s tenure.  A more extensive posting on Ekdahl and the implications of his appointment will follow soon.

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