Michael Capellas
Encyclopedia
Michael David Capellas is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Acadia
Enterprises, LLC a joint venture of Cisco
and EMC
with investment from Intel and VMware
. He also serves as Chairman of the Virtual Computing Environment (VCE) coalition. Capellas previously served as Chairman and CEO of First Data Corporation, Acting CEO of Serena Software
, President and CEO of WorldCom (later MCI), and Chairman and CEO of Compaq Computer Corporation until its merger with Hewlett-Packard where he became President of the post-merger company.
citizen who fought with the Greek Army against the Germans
in Italy
in World War II
. After the war, the elder Capellas met and married his wife, Juliet, in Italy
. The family then emigrated to Ohio
where Capellas' father worked his way up from laborer to superintendent at the Republic Steel Corp
. My dad had an unbelievable work ethic. He was intensely loyal to the company. He worked there for 30 years, says Capellas.
As an undergraduate at Kent State University
, Capellas developed an interest in computers. Shortly after he graduated with a BBA from Kent State, Capellas met his future wife, Marie Angelillo, a former nurse. The two married in 1979, and for the next 20 years they traveled around the world as Capellas climbed the ranks of each company he joined.
and Compaq, which had eroded over the years. His efforts resulted in Compaq becoming Microsoft's key strategic partner for the release of its Windows 2000
operating system. In 2001, Capellas led Compaq into an acquisition by Hewlett-Packard
, but the deal was delayed for eight months because of a proxy and boardroom battle within HP.
Finally, on May 3, 2002, Hewlett-Packard announced approval of the acquisition and Capellas became president of the post-merger Hewlett-Packard, under CEO Carly Fiorina
, to ease the integration of the two companies. However, Capellas was reported not to be happy with his role, being said not to be utilized and being unlikely to become CEO as the board supported Fiorina. Capellas stepped down on November 12, 2002, just six months on the job. His former role of president was not filled as the executives who reported to him then reported directly to the CEO.
In December 2002, Capellas became President and CEO of WorldCom (later MCI
). He stepped down as CEO after the Verizon merger in 2006.
In December 2006, Capellas was appointed acting CEO of Serena Software
, selected by Silver Lake Partners
, the company that took Serena private in March 2006.
On July 10, 2007, Capellas was identified as the new CEO of First Data Corporation. The position was to become effective upon the completion of the leveraged buy out (LBO) of First Data by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co..
He is also on the Board of Directors
for Cisco Systems
, and national board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He was also a Senior Advisor for Silver Lake Partners
, an investment firm that focuses on large scale investments in technology and related industries. In 2001, Capellas was inducted into the Warren, Ohio
Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Enterprises, LLC a joint venture of Cisco
Cisco
Cisco may refer to:Companies:*Cisco Systems, a computer networking company* Certis CISCO, corporatised entity of the former Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation in Singapore...
and EMC
EMC
EMC may refer to:In organizations:* EMC Corporation, an information management company* IEEE Electromagnetic Compatibility Society, a worldwide professional engineering society* Eastern Media Centre, a television channel in the UK...
with investment from Intel and VMware
VMware
VMware, Inc. is a company providing virtualization software founded in 1998 and based in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company was acquired by EMC Corporation in 2004, and operates as a separate software subsidiary ....
. He also serves as Chairman of the Virtual Computing Environment (VCE) coalition. Capellas previously served as Chairman and CEO of First Data Corporation, Acting CEO of Serena Software
Serena Software
Serena Software Inc is US-based software company.Serena develops and markets products focused on managing change across information technology environments...
, President and CEO of WorldCom (later MCI), and Chairman and CEO of Compaq Computer Corporation until its merger with Hewlett-Packard where he became President of the post-merger company.
Early years
Capellas says he inherited his gritty determination from his father, a GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
citizen who fought with the Greek Army against the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, the elder Capellas met and married his wife, Juliet, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The family then emigrated to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
where Capellas' father worked his way up from laborer to superintendent at the Republic Steel Corp
Republic Steel
Republic Steel was once the third largest steel producer in the United States.The Republic Iron and Steel Company was founded in Youngstown, Ohio in 1899....
. My dad had an unbelievable work ethic. He was intensely loyal to the company. He worked there for 30 years, says Capellas.
As an undergraduate at Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, Capellas developed an interest in computers. Shortly after he graduated with a BBA from Kent State, Capellas met his future wife, Marie Angelillo, a former nurse. The two married in 1979, and for the next 20 years they traveled around the world as Capellas climbed the ranks of each company he joined.
Corporate World
As Chairman and CEO of Compaq Computer Corporation between 1999 and 2001, Capellas helped repair the relationship between MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
and Compaq, which had eroded over the years. His efforts resulted in Compaq becoming Microsoft's key strategic partner for the release of its Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
operating system. In 2001, Capellas led Compaq into an acquisition by Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
, but the deal was delayed for eight months because of a proxy and boardroom battle within HP.
Finally, on May 3, 2002, Hewlett-Packard announced approval of the acquisition and Capellas became president of the post-merger Hewlett-Packard, under CEO Carly Fiorina
Carly Fiorina
Carly Fiorina is an American business executive and a former Republican candidate for the United States Senate representing California. Fiorina served as chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005 and previously was an executive at AT&T and its equipment and technology spinoff,...
, to ease the integration of the two companies. However, Capellas was reported not to be happy with his role, being said not to be utilized and being unlikely to become CEO as the board supported Fiorina. Capellas stepped down on November 12, 2002, just six months on the job. His former role of president was not filled as the executives who reported to him then reported directly to the CEO.
In December 2002, Capellas became President and CEO of WorldCom (later MCI
MCI Communications
MCI Communications Corp. was an American telecommunications company that was instrumental in legal and regulatory changes that led to the breakup of the AT&T monopoly of American telephony and ushered in the competitive long-distance telephone industry. It was headquartered in Washington,...
). He stepped down as CEO after the Verizon merger in 2006.
In December 2006, Capellas was appointed acting CEO of Serena Software
Serena Software
Serena Software Inc is US-based software company.Serena develops and markets products focused on managing change across information technology environments...
, selected by Silver Lake Partners
Silver Lake Partners
Silver Lake is a US-based private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in technology, technology-enabled and related industries...
, the company that took Serena private in March 2006.
On July 10, 2007, Capellas was identified as the new CEO of First Data Corporation. The position was to become effective upon the completion of the leveraged buy out (LBO) of First Data by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co..
He is also on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
, and national board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He was also a Senior Advisor for Silver Lake Partners
Silver Lake Partners
Silver Lake is a US-based private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in technology, technology-enabled and related industries...
, an investment firm that focuses on large scale investments in technology and related industries. In 2001, Capellas was inducted into the Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.