Lotus president and CEO Jeffrey Papows today resigned following a tough year where he faced a sex discrimination suit as well as questions about his military and educational background.
The 45-year-old Papows, who took over at Lotus a year after IBM purchased the company in 1995 for $3.5 billion, will be replaced by Al Zollar, general manager of IBM's network computing software division. Papows and Zollar report to John Thompson the senior vice president and group executive of IBM's software group.
Papows resignation is effective Feb. 1, according to sources.
The last year has been a long one for Papows. In April, a scathing Wall Street Journal article claimed he had lied about his military record. Less than a month later, Papows was named in a sexual discrimination complaint brought by a former executive at Lotus.
The Journal story said Papows told colleagues and business associates he was an officer and a pilot in the Marine Corps. The story also stated that Papows told associates he was an orphan even though both his parents are still alive.
Papows was an air traffic controller in the Marines and records show he rose to the rank of first lieutenant. His official bio on the Lotus Web site also says he was an officer in the Marine Corps.
"I'm surprised that he hung on as long as he did," says Eric Arnum, editor of Messaging Online, a Web-based newsletter that follows the messaging industry. Rumors had circulated after the April article in the Journal that Papows would soon be gone.
The resignation could not have come at a worse time for Lotus, which is preparing for its yearly showcase Lotusphere conference, which begins Jan. 17 in Orlando.
Lotus officials were not available for comment.
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