The Matthew Szulik era at Linux software company Red Hat has ended.
As announced in May, Szulik's resignation as chairman took effect today -- the date of the company's annual shareholders meeting. Szulik, who ran the company for nearly a decade before stepping down as CEO in early 2008 so that he could focus on family health matters, helped transform Red Hat into one of the Triangle's most successful technology companies.
His successor as CEO, Jim Whitehurst, expressed appreciation for Szulik's lengthy service to the company in a 15-minute, no-frills-taking-care-of-business shareholders meeting this morning at the company's headquarters at Centennial Campus in Raleigh.
Red Hat's board of directors hasn't yet elected a new chairman.
Today's meeting attracted a little more than two dozen people -- including board members, employees and shareholders. No one even posed a question during the period set aside for Q&A.
The sparse attendance and lack of inquisitiveness was no surprise given the performance of the company's stock. Last week Red Hat shares hit a four-year high.
Szulik attended today's meeting but didn't address the audience. Afterwards, he deflected credit for the company's tremendous growth and success during his tenure.
"The real story has got nothing to do with me," he said. "It was getting the 20-somethings that nobody ever wanted, the kids with the long hair and the earrings, and just getting them to believe in something. They're the real story of Red Hat."
