Leadership Changes At Invensys Operations Management

Caliel was previously with Invensys from 1993 to 2006, latterly as Chief Executive of Invensys Process Systems, the largest of the predecessor companies that were brought together to form Invensys Operations Management (www.iom.invensys.com) in early 2009. He has over 25 years experience in the industry and was until recently CEO of Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. Since he left the company in 2006, the company suffered through the disastrous leadership of Paulett Eberhart and then the recovery under Sudipta Bhattacharya.

He is taking over from Sudipta Bhattacharya who joined the Group in 2007 as President of the Wonderware Software division and has been the leader of Invensys Operations Management since February 2009. According to the press release, Bhattacharya has decided to leave next year to take up a new role outside Invensys. In the meantime, he will be working with Caliel to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities within the division and will also be assisting on group business development in the Middle East and Asia.

Wayne Edmunds, Chief Executive of Invensys plc, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Mike back to Invensys into a role which is very familiar to him. He has first class experience in the industries the division operates in, our customers as well as our products and technologies. His enthusiasm and drive will now be directed to building on the division’s strong market positions.

“I would like to thank Sudipta for his tremendous efforts over the past four years where we have continually shown double digit growth at Wonderware and then at Invensys Operations Management and wish him every success in the future. Invensys Operations Management has shown strong growth since its formation and Sudipta has built an excellent management team to take the business forward under Mike’s leadership.”

Excited to return

Caliel stated that he is excited to return to Invensys and take the helm at the Operations Management division. “I have many friends at Invensys and have first-hand knowledge of the talented people who are in place around the world making a positive impact on Invensys customers,” said Caliel. “I’m looking forward to reconnecting with customers, partners, and others in the industry as we continue building on the success of Invensys Operations Management and executing against the strong strategy we have in place.”

People will be wondering why make the change if the unit has been seeing such growth as Edmunds cites. There remains much internal strife between the “Foxboro” and “Wonderware” sides of the business—with Bhattacharya coming from the Wonderware side and Caliel from the Foxboro one. However, those hoping for major change should remember that Caliel led the InFusion development and launch in 2006. This initiative appropriated technology developed by Wonderware, then a separate division, and added to the Foxboro portfolio.

Bhattacharya had assembled a strong team and was showing results, but the results and long-term strategy may not match what new CEO Edmunds and the Invensys plc board wants right now. Remember, Edmunds was Chief Financial Officer before the board dismissed his predecessor and named him CEO. Their goal is not publicly defined, but word from the investor community consistently says that the company is for sale. It will be interesting to see what moves Caliel makes in his first three months that signal what, if any, new direction the board wants to see.