MySQL chief Mickos leaving Sun

IDG News Service - Marten Mickos, who was MySQL AB's CEO and has been heading the database unit at Sun Microsystems Inc. since it bought MySQL last year, is leaving Sun, a company spokeswoman confirmed on Friday.

Mickos, who became senior vice president of Sun's database group after the $1 billion acquisition of MySQL, is just the latest high-profile figure associated with the open-source database vendor to depart from Sun.

The MySQL database's creator, Michael "Monty" Widenius, said in a blog post yesterday that he had resigned from Sun because of his unhappiness over its handling of MySQL development — dissatisfaction that he voiced in late November in a highly critical blog post, which Mickos excused as "part of being an open-source company."

Also, MySQL co-founder David Axmark left Sun several months ago, citing the confining nature of corporate life, according to a blog post about his resignation that was written by another MySQL employee.

Mickos couldn't immediately be reached for comment today on his departure.

Sun said his duties have been taken over by fellow executive Karen Tegan Padir, who is now vice president of a newly formed MySQL & software infrastructure group at Sun. Padir led the technology and engineering integration of MySQL into the Sun organization after the acquisition of the database vendor, according to the company.

In addition to MySQL, Padir is now responsible for Sun's Glassfish application server and Java Enterprise System software, plus its identity management and SOA tools. The reorganization "puts MySQL into the mainstream of software at Sun" and will help the company form "even tighter linkages between all software properties," Sun said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Mickos' bio on Sun's Web site has been updated to say that he will serve as an "open-source strategist" until the end of Sun's fiscal third quarter in March.