Red Hat creates Vice President EMEA position

Previous Open Source Marketing Manager at Red Hat, Werner Knoblich continues to drive Red Hats growth in Europe, Middle East and Africa

München -

Red Hat, Inc. (Nasdaq:RHAT), the worlds leading provider of open source to the enterprise, today announced the appointment of Werner Knoblich as Vice President EMEA to head up business operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. As part of his role he will be responsible for maintaining relations with major clients and developing joint strategies with the major associate companies such as Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens Computers, IBM, Intel, HP, Oracle, and SAP. Knoblich will report to Alex Pinchev, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales of Red Hat.


This appointment follows Knoblichs previous roles as Red Hat Open Source Marketing Manager and Director Northern Europe where he was responsible for operational business in the German-speaking countries, Great Britain, and Ireland. Since joining Red Hat in July 2003, Knoblich has successfully led a European team in developing Red Hat business outside America to 50 percent of total turnover.


After completing his business management studies, Knoblich gained extensive experience of building international business relations in the IT sector. He worked for IBM and software house USU before working with MainControl in the USA where as VP Customer Solutions and Pre-Sales, he was responsible for the care and development of world-wide customer relations. Before coming to Red Hat he also held the post of Vice President Customer Solutions for MRO Software, after the acquisition MainControl in May 2002.


"By appointing Werner Knoblich to Vice President EMEA, we are doing more than simply acknowledging his services to the company", says Alex Pinchev. "This appointment also highlights the growing significance of the EMEA economic area for us. We are now generating significantly more than 50 percent of our sales outside North America. In the last quarter of fiscal 2005 we have achieved twice as much turnover with Linux subscriptions than the second largest Linux provider worldwide. The dynamics of this market continue to be substantial, and we are certain that Werner Knoblich is the right man to promote and co-ordinate our continued growth in this region."


For more information please visit http://www.europe.redhat.com.


About Red Hat, Inc.


Red Hat, the worlds leading open source and Linux provider, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with satellite offices spanning the globe. Red Hat is leading Linux and open source solutions into the mainstream by making high quality, low cost technology accessible. Red Hat provides operating system software along with middleware, applications, and management solutions. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide and through top-tier partnerships. Red Hats Open Source strategy offers customers a long-term plan for building infrastructures that are based on and leverage open source technologies with focus on security and ease of management. Learn more: http://www.europe.redhat.com


Forward-Looking Statements


Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release that are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, managements plans and objectives for future operations, and managements assessment of market factors, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, reliance upon strategic relationships, management of growth, the possibility of undetected software errors, the risks of economic downturns generally, and in Red Hats industry specifically, the risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures, the viability of the Internet, and other risks detailed in Red Hats filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be accessed through the SECs Web site at http://www.sec.gov


*LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc.

  • About Red Hat
  • Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com.



  • Forward-Looking Statements
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