Picasso takes charge

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 12, 2004

IHS Group has selected Charles A Picasso as the new President and CEO for the global firm, effective immediately.

IHS Group has selected Charles A Picasso as the new President and CEO for the global firm, effective immediately.

"I am pleased to announce that the Board has chosen Charles Picasso as President and CEO of the IHS Group", said Jerre L Stead, Chairman of the Board of IHS Group.

"Charles' international background working for Fortune 500 and global corporations will serve IHS Group well as our company continues to grow".

"One of the things I've learned over the years is that the best way to make a transition successful is to plan it carefully and make sure the company is in great shape".

"Bob Carpenter did that better than I could ever have hoped, and I feel really good about the transition going forward".

Picasso was also elected to the company's board of directors.

Prior to his appointment as President and CEO of IHS Group, Picasso was President and COO of IHS Engineering the past year and immediately prior to that, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for IHS Engineering.

Before joining the IHS team, Picasso was COO with Digital Island, an Internet service provider.

Digital Island sold to Cable and Wireless, a communication company headquartered in London (UK) and through a reverse merger Digital Island took over all worldwide Internet services of C and W to create a company, which later acquired the Exodus assets under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to enhance its own assets.

In the end, the merger of Digital Island/Cable and Wireless/Exodus created a group with 2800 associates worldwide and revenues in excess of $800 million.

Picasso led the transition and left after its successful completion.

Prior to that he was Senior Vice President Worldwide Professional Services Business Unit with AT and T Global Information Solutions/NCR, an organisation with 4000 associates worldwide and revenues of $700 million based in Dayton, Ohio; President and CEO for AT and T Istel, based in Paris, France.

Prior to working for AT and T/NCR, Picasso served as President and CEO for Concept Group, Europe, a company listed on the Paris Stock exchange.

Picasso held several senior executive positions with Matra Group (now EADS), Control Data Corporations, Prime Computer and other corporations in Europe.

Picasso's background in building professional services, sales and marketing organisations is of tremendous value in focusing the IHS companies of IHS Group and the strength that comes from that focus.

Picasso earned a BS in computer science from the University of Sciences in Montpellier, France and completed executive education courses during his tenure at AT and T Corporation and Control Data Corp sponsored by Harvard Business School and Insead.

He is fluent in English and French.

Picasso and his wife have lived in the Denver area for two years; they have three children.