Jazwiec out, Mayoras in as CEO of RedPrairie

Waukesha, Wis. - Outspoken executive John Jazwiec has resigned as the leader of RedPrairie Corp., and the company has appointed Michael Mayoras to serve as chief executive officer.

The management shake up comes after a bizarre story in which Jazwiec reported a home invasion and robbery that some dispute. Jazwiec, whose criticism of Wisconsin's business climate made headlines in 2006, has been roundly criticized for not calling the police immediately afterward and for unnecessarily harming the reputation of an upscale east side Milwaukee neighborhood.

Although police were still investigating, Jazwiec recently decided not to pursue the matter further.

Jazwiec told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he would return to the Chicago area, and he denied he was forced to leave the software firm. He is a native of Elgin, Ill.

While he is given credit for turning around RedPrairie - after a series of acquisitions, it now generates about $250 million in annual revenue - his knack for making controversial headlines has brought unwelcome attention to a private company that might go public.

Last year, Jazwiec's criticism of Wisconsin's business climate - particularly, high taxes that made it difficult to recruit executive talent here - fueled speculation that the company would someday move, but he later backtracked.

RedPrairie, a provider of supply chain, logistics, and warehouse management software, is owned by Francisco Partners, an investment firm in Menlo Park, Calif.

RedPrairie reportedly is considering a move from its Town of Brookfield headquarters to a site in downtown Milwaukee, but it might also want to move closer to its parent company in California.

The new boss

Mayoras has more than 25 years experience in the consulting and software industries. He joined RedPrairie in 2004 as executive vice president of customer and delivery services, and was promoted to president of SCE Americas in 2006. Prior to joining RedPrairie, he served as president of the broadband provider DigiTerra, a subsidiary of CIBER, an information technology consultant based in Greenwood Village, Colo.

In addition to serving as CEO of RedPrairie, Mayoras will have a seat on RedPrairie's board of directors.

To address additional growth in the area of global commerce, Francisco Partners has appointed Martin Hiscox to vice chairman of the RedPrairie board. As president and managing director of International, he directs RedPrairie's efforts in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

Hiscox previously served as chief executive officer of LIS, a European supply chain software and services company that was acquired by Red Prairie in 2003.

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