08 August 2007

Symbian senior VP defects to mobile Linux!

The LiMo (Linux Mobile) Foundation, an industry group building a common software stack for Linux-based mobile phones, today announced a dozen new members.

The organization also disclosed that rival Symbian's longtime Senior VP of Sales and Professional Services, Morgan Gillis, will soon become its Executive Director.

New LiMo Foundation members reportedly include Korean handset powerhouse LG, and Linux software stack and tools rivals MontaVista and Wind River.

Gillis, who will assume the role of LiMo Executive Director in September, comes to LiMo from Linux's chief rival in the mobile phone market, Symbian. Speaking with LinuxDevices, Gillis commented, "I joined the LiMo Foundation to have the chance to work with industry leaders to roll out a platform that will be widely adopted, and not just by a faction within the market."

"It's also very exciting for me to work through the early part of a new venture," he added.

Gillis joined Symbian in 2000, two years after it was founded. He served as Executive VP of Sales and Professional Services there for seven years, taking responsibility for Symbian's training and service partner ecosystems, and helping the company expand into Japan. Gillis holds an honors degree in math and computer science from the University of Sussex, U.K.