Siebel Founder Leaves CEO Post

Thomas Siebel stepped down Monday as chief executive of Siebel Systems Inc., the software company he founded 11 years ago. IBM Corp.’s Michael Lawrie will take over starting today, the company said.

Lawrie, 50, was most recently head of global sales at IBM, where he worked for 26 years. Siebel, 51, will remain chairman, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company said.

Siebel is relinquishing day-to-day control of the company amid signs of a pickup in customer spending after 11 quarters of declining sales. Siebel said he decided last year to separate the roles of chairman and CEO.

Lawrie joined IBM in 1977 and became head of sales in 2001 after heading IBM’s business in Europe, the Mideast and Africa. He said he did not anticipate making any significant management changes.

His move triggered management changes at IBM, however.

The computer maker Monday named Chief Financial Officer John Joyce as head of its services business, its largest unit. He replaces Douglas Elix, who will take over Lawrie’s post. Finance unit chief Mark Loughridge, 50, will become CFO.

Siebel shares rose 33 cents to $10.62 on Nasdaq. Shares of Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM fell 15 cents to $88.02 on the New York Stock Exchange.