Palo Alto, CA – November 2, 2009 – Symphony Technology Group (STG), a private equity firm with a strategic focus on software and services, today announced that R. Andrew (Andy) Eckert has joined the firm as a Managing Director and General Partner. At STG, Eckert will partner with the management teams of Symphony Technology Group portfolio companies to apply his operations experience through the business transformation process. Eckert initially will work directly with new management at MSC.Software, a Santa Ana, CA-based design simulation software company. STG completed its acquisition of MSC on October 13.
“Our approach has always been to apply best practices in operations and technology innovation to accelerate both the revenue growth rate and profitability of our portfolio companies,” said STG Chairman and CEO Romesh Wadhwani. “Andy brings extensive experience as a CEO and turnaround expert to STG, which will add strategic value to our portfolio companies, especially MSC. We are happy to welcome Andy to the team.”
“STG has a strong track record investing in companies with promise and transforming them into great companies,” said Andy Eckert. “It’s gratifying to build a team and execute on the company’s goals together. I’m excited to join STG and partner with MSC and other portfolio companies to help them realize their potential and deliver better value to customers and investors.”
Eckert joins STG from Eclipsys, a healthcare information technology company, which recently relocated to Atlanta from San Jose, CA. Eckert served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Eclipsys from 2005 to 2009. During that five-year period, Eckert is credited with leading a comprehensive turnaround of the company.
Prior to his success at Eclipsys, Eckert was Chief Executive Office of SumTotal Systems, Inc., a provider of learning and business performance technologies and services that was created by the merger of Docent, Inc. and Click2learn. Prior to that merger, Eckert was the CEO of Docent from 2002 to 2004. Previously, Mr. Eckert spent 11 years with ADAC Laboratories, a global leader in nuclear medicine and radiation therapy planning systems, where he served in a variety of senior executive positions, including CEO from 1997-2001.
Prior to his time with ADAC, Eckert worked in the consulting and financial industries with Goldman Sachs, Summit Partners and Marakon Associates. Eckert currently serves as a board member of Varian Medical Systems, an oncology capital equipment company.
Eckert holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
About Symphony Technology Group
Symphony Technology Group (STG) is a strategic private equity firm with the mission of investing in and building great software and services companies. In addition to capital, STG provides transformative expertise to enable its companies to deliver maximum value to their clients to retain and attract the best talent and to achieve best in class business performance. All STG companies are expected to grow through innovation. STG’s current portfolio consists of 10 global companies.
For more information, please contact:
Carol Sacks
TENOR Communications
carol@tenorcom.com
650.520.8261