An update on the organizational changes at SolidWorks
I have some news to share with everyone today. After nearly eight years here at SolidWorks, including four as CEO, I have accepted a new position at Dassault Systèmes headquarters in Vélizy, France. In the next few days, I’ll be leaving my office in Concord, Massachusetts and hopping a plane to Paris.
In my new role as Executive Vice President, Geographic Operations, I’ll be working with Dassault Systèmes country managers around the world to help improve the customer experience. This isn’t just a new role for me, but also for Dassault Systèmes, created to help streamline the customer experience, to address local customer needs, and to improve technology overall. While leaving SolidWorks is bittersweet for me, I'm excited about this new challenge, and I see it as a chance to help spread the energy of the SolidWorks community to a larger audience.
Over the past four years, I’ve witnessed SolidWorks achieve great things. We now have a diverse product line that's helping our customers be more productive every day. We have a global organization full of intelligent, creative, and energetic professionals whom I respect and admire. Our reseller channel is the best in the world, and we have expanded our reach thanks to our robust partner community. And, despite an amazing amount of growth over the past few years, we’ve maintained our energetic culture and focus on our customers’ success.
But I’m not the only person changing roles. I’m happy to announce that Bertrand Sicot, the current SolidWorks VP of Sales, will be promoted to CEO. Bertrand joined the SolidWorks team in 1997, and as an engineer by training and member of the global SolidWorks community, he has always kept the needs of customers paramount. Bertrand’s vision, leadership, and engineering and business expertise will keep SolidWorks on its very successful course.
Bertrand’s training in the French navy may be the source of his quiet confidence, endless dedication to solving tough challenges, and loyal commitment to helping people succeed both personally and professionally. For those of you who have spent time with him, you know that his charisma, charm, and appreciation for family and friends is truly contagious.
Although I'll continue to work on behalf of SolidWorks every day, I'll certainly miss interacting with all of our customers, employees, resellers and partners every day. I thank each and every one of you for your friendship over the past few years. Thank you again and congratulations to Bertrand – I know that SolidWorks is in good hands under his leadership.