Channel Says Fond Farewell To Gary Grimes

Grimes was a major positive influence on Sun's channel, said John Murphy, co-chair of Sun's iForce partner council and executive vice president of Advanced Systems Group, a Denver-based Sun solution partner.

Murphy, who has known Grimes since the early 1990s when the latter was vice president of sales for the East coast, said Grimes was instrumental in elevating the channel at Sun. "A lot of what Sun's channel is goes to his credit," he said.

That Grimes is retiring now is no surprise, said Murphy, who noted that Grimes has spent much time at Sun and in the industry. "He made a lot of money, and it's time to enjoy the good life," Murphy said. "I'm jealous."

With a daughter getting married and a second grandchild coming, it's time for Grimes to enjoy himself, said Tom Kuni, the other iForce co-chair and the president of Metuchen, N.J.-based solution provider SSI hubcity.

The channel has never had a better advocate than Grimes, said Kuni. "He's leaving some pretty big shoes to fill," he said. "In the last two years, he brought Sun's channel along. He took on a lot of issues within Sun others didn't have the intestinal fortitude to handle."

The key to Sun's channel success will be executing on Grimes' legacy, said Kuni.

"I hope Bill Cate [director of Sun's iForce program office] will continue to be a part of what we are doing," said Kuni. "Cate was one of the best aspects of Gary's team. I feel Gary and Bill dared to care. When Sun was going through adversity, it was not the easiest place to be. For whoever takes over Gary's place, the top mantra should be, do no harm."

Kuni said he is glad to see that Grimes will work with his replacement, Greg Stroud, through December. "I'm happy Gary did not end abruptly, but will serve in transition," he said. "It shows he truly cares."

Murphy, who has known Stroud since the late 1980s, said Stroud has a strong reputation within Sun. "From a visibility standpoint, and in keeping someone entrenched from Sun in the position, he's a good choice."

Many Sun partners will have an opportunity to meet with Grimes and Stroud, as well as with Sun Chairman and CEO Scott McNealy and other top execs, during the John Elway Sun Microsystems Celebrity Golf Tournament, held next week in Colorado, near San Diego, Calif.