Robert E.

Prigge

(Sterling Commerce Executive Bio)

Robert E. Prigge has almost two decades of leadership experience guiding top-tier companies in building world-class global and international sales operations. With an exceptional record of year after year successes, background includes sales assignments all over the world (US, England, Japan) with companies ranging from start-ups, to $1B software vendors, to global behemoth IBM. Key member of the management team leading to two successful exits via acquisition in the last 4 years. Fluent in multiple languages and successful in leading businesses using direct, channel and hybrid selling models.

Prigge is currently the NA Sales Leader, Business Solutions for IBM where he is responsible for the nearly $500m NA B2B solutions business covering all B2B products in NA including MFT, Websphere B2B products, SAAS offerings and the Business Collaboration Network.  The Business Solutions pillar (B2B) is a founding member, and largest component, of the Industry Solutions Division of the IBM Software Group, formed in January 2011. Business Solutions also represents one of the core components of IBM's Smarter Commerce strategy.

While Vice-President of Global Sales & Marketing for $634m revenue, 2,700 person,  B2B leader Sterling Commerce, he was part of the 8 person senior leadership team that guided the company through its acquisition by IBM. Sterling Commerce helped companies optimize and transform their Business Collaboration Network to accelerate revenues and reduce costs.  Sterling Commerce provided more than 18,000 customers worldwide with applications and integration solutions to connect, communicate and collaborate inside and outside their enterprise. He was also the President & Representative Director of the Japanese subsidiary, Sterling Commerce K.K. Prior to joining Sterling Commerce, Prigge was Vice-President of Asia-Pacific & Japan for market leading enterprise gateway security provider Secure Computing.

During his tenure at Secure Computing, and then through its acquisition by McAfee, Prigge greatly expanded operations in Asia-Pacific & Japan and assisted in the consolidation of acquisitions of companies like Cyberguard and Ciphertrust. He revitalized the entire sales organization with major shifts in channel sales strategy, operations, and sales methodologies. This resulted in quarter-on-quarter growth virtually every single quarter in a row as well as the largest deals for each business unit in the history of the region. Prigge was also responsible for the creation of the first support structure in the region, the first localized web sites, and the first set of product localization.

Prior to Secure Computing, Prigge had served as General Manager, Asia & Japan for global Microsoft Infrastructure leader Quest Software where during his tenure offices were established in China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. Prigge also managed Asia-Pacific and/or Japan for companies such as Symark Software and Manhattan Associates as well as held key management positions at PLATINUM technology, Kana Communications, Witness Systems, WRQ, and Extricity. Prigge also has a rich background of entrepreneurship as a founding member and COO of market-leading outsourced management and incubation company Japan InfoTech.

Prigge is a graduate of University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering and was an Edmund James Scholar. He originally entered the U of I at the age of 16 under the Junior Engineering Scholarship Program.