Novell Senior Vice President for Marketing, John Slitz, Recognized for Role in Company's
Resurgence
Networking Executive Named "Marketer of the Year" by Marketing Computers
Magazine
PROVO, Utah -- January 13, 1999 -- Novell, Inc. today announced that John Slitz,
senior vice president for marketing, has been named one of the "Marketers of the Year" by Marketing
Computers Magazine. The award recognized Slitz's role in the resurgence of Novell's marketing in 1998
and the networking company's return to industry leadership in what the magazine's January issue called
"the turnaround story of the year" in the enterprise computing market.
Novell, the leader in directory-enabled networking solutions, achieved progressively higher profits and
sales throughout 1998 on the strength of its NetWare 5 server platform and other new products that use
Novell Directory Services (NDS) to manage business networks and access to the Internet. Marketing
Computers recognized the role of Novell's improved marketing, led by Slitz, in focusing Novell's
directory-based networking message, addressing non-technical decision makers such as CEOs and line-
of-business managers, and winning broad industry acceptance for NetWare 5 and other new, directory-
powered solutions.
"John Slitz has done a masterful job at the top," said Aberdeen Group Analyst Bob Sakakeeny. "The
folks in the trenches running the systems have been favorable to Novell, but had no ammunition, in
English, to bring to the executive suite. John has changed all that by bringing new focus and clarity to
Novell's marketing."
"With networks becoming central to every computing project, we needed to reach beyond the technical
specialists and clearly communicate our goals and the benefits of our products," said Slitz. "We needed
to make it clear how NDS and directory-enabled solutions simplify network management, reducing
administration costs while expanding the choice of applications and services available to our customers."
Among the 1998 Novell marketing milestones cited by Marketing Computers are expanded advertising
and public relations programs focused on the customer benefits of NDS and Novell's specialized
networking platform. Goals for 1999, according to Slitz, include an even sharper focus on the value of
directory services and Novell's role in integrating customer networks with the Internet.
"In 1999, you will see NDS emerge as one of the industry's critical technologies for managing access to
the Internet," said Slitz. "NDS allows organizations to create profiles that define who you are, what you
can do, and where you can go on both your business network and the Internet. Businesses can take
control of every resource on the network, reducing bottom-line costs while adding top-line value in the
form of new applications and e-commerce activities."
About Novell
Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) is the leading provider of network software enabled by directory
services. Novell Internet solutions make networks more manageable and secure and reduce the total cost
of ownership for organizations of every kind and size. Novell's worldwide channel, developer, education
and technical support programs are the most extensive in the network computing industry.
For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer
Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements
and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom.
Novell, NetWare, Novell Directory Services and NDS are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Press Contact:
Jonathan Cohen
Novell, Inc.
408-577-7268
Internet: jcohen@novell.com
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