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| known for = Founder of ] | | known for = Founder of ] | ||
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'''Michael Cowpland''' (born April 23, 1943 in ]) is a British-born |
'''Michael Cowpland''' (born April 23, 1943 in ]) is a British-born Canadian businessman. He is the founder and one-time president, chairman and CEO of ], a Canadian software company.<ref>{{cite news |title=End of an era: Terry Matthews, board members bid farewell to Mitel following $2B acquisition {{!}} Ottawa Business Journal |url=https://www.obj.ca/article/terry-matthews-out-mitel-following-close-2b-acquisition |work=www.obj.ca}}</ref> | ||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
===Mitel=== | ===Mitel=== | ||
Cowpland worked for Bell Northern Research (later part of ]), then ]. In 1973, Cowpland and ] founded ], a company that developed and sold electronic ] systems. Initial success made both founders millionaires. Sales peaked at $250 million, but over-expansion and development problems saw the company bought by ]. Both Cowpland and Matthews left the company in 1984 amid disagreements with the owners.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} | Cowpland worked for Bell Northern Research (later part of ]), then ]. In 1973, Cowpland and ] founded ], a company that developed and sold electronic ] systems. Initial success made both founders millionaires.<ref>{{cite news |last1=James Bagnall |title=The Capital Builders: A who's who of tech giants who not only survived – but thrived |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/technology/tech-biz/the-capital-builders-a-whos-who-of-tech-giants-who-not-only-survived-but-thrived |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=13 August 2017}}</ref> Sales peaked at $250 million, but over-expansion and development problems saw the company bought by ]. Both Cowpland and Matthews left the company in 1984 amid disagreements with the owners.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} | ||
===Corel=== | ===Corel=== | ||
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In 1996, he offered a challenge to ] with a move into ], acquiring ] from ] for $158 million. However this was unsuccessful as Microsoft managed to get many new computers loaded with ] along with ].<ref name=financialpost>{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/11/08/blackberry-ltd-isnt-the-first-canadian-tech-company-to-go-from-rockstar-to-near-ruin/?__lsa=2ab0-85d5 |title=BlackBerry Ltd isn't the first Canadian tech company to go from rockstar to (near) ruin |date=November 8, 2013 |newspaper=Financial Post}}</ref> The company also made unsuccessful forays into ], ], ], ] and other developments. | In 1996, he offered a challenge to ] with a move into ], acquiring ] from ] for $158 million. However this was unsuccessful as Microsoft managed to get many new computers loaded with ] along with ].<ref name=financialpost>{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/11/08/blackberry-ltd-isnt-the-first-canadian-tech-company-to-go-from-rockstar-to-near-ruin/?__lsa=2ab0-85d5 |title=BlackBerry Ltd isn't the first Canadian tech company to go from rockstar to (near) ruin |date=November 8, 2013 |newspaper=Financial Post}}</ref> The company also made unsuccessful forays into ], ], ], ] and other developments. | ||
He was investigated by the ] (OSC) in 1999–2000 regarding allegations that he had used insider information to sell $20 million in Corel shares at $8/share shortly before the company posted disappointing results. The two sides settled the case in 2003, with Cowpland agreeing to pay $575,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/Enforcement/Proceedings/RAD/rad_20031212_cowpland.jsp |title= |
He was investigated by the ] (OSC) in 1999–2000 regarding allegations that he had used insider information to sell $20 million in Corel shares at $8/share shortly before the company posted disappointing results. The two sides settled the case in 2003, with Cowpland agreeing to pay $575,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/Enforcement/Proceedings/RAD/rad_20031212_cowpland.jsp |title=Ontario Securities Commission - Order - in the Matter of M.C.J.C. Holdings Inc. And Michael Cowpland - CVMO |accessdate=2006-07-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503051807/http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/Enforcement/Proceedings/RAD/rad_20031212_cowpland.jsp |archivedate=2007-05-03 }}</ref> | ||
Subsequent to Cowpland's alleged insider sale at $8, Corel shares hit a peak of $60/share around November 1999, during the height of the Linux boom when ] was seen to be a potential rival to Microsoft Windows.{{ |
Subsequent to Cowpland's alleged insider sale at $8, Corel shares hit a peak of $60/share around November 1999, during the height of the Linux boom when ] was seen to be a potential rival to Microsoft Windows.<ref name="cbc">{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Cowpland holding company fined $1 million for illegal insider trading |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cowpland-holding-company-fined-1-million-for-illegal-insider-trading-1.307390 |work=CBC News |date=12 February 2002}}</ref> | ||
Michael resigned as Corel's CEO in August 2000.<ref name="cbc" /> | |||
⚫ | After an unsuccessful attempt to buy Borland with a view to creating a critical mass for Linux, Cowpland left Corel in August 2000, and moved on to buy control of ZIM corporation, a database and mobile content company which is listed on the NASDAQ bulletin board (ZIMCF). | ||
⚫ | After an unsuccessful attempt to buy ] with a view to creating a critical mass for Linux, Cowpland left Corel in August 2000, and moved on to buy control of ZIM corporation, a database and mobile content company which is listed on the NASDAQ bulletin board (ZIMCF). | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
], ], Ontario.]] | ], ], Ontario.]] | ||
He was married to his first wife Darlene until 1991 when they divorced. They have two daughters, Paula and Christine. In 1992, he married his second wife, Marlen Cowpland. The couple live in a $14-million 1,800-square-metre |
He was married to his first wife Darlene until 1991 when they divorced. They have two daughters, Paula and Christine. In 1992, he married his second wife, Marlen Cowpland. The couple live in a $14-million 1,800-square-metre mansion in ].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?q=Marlen%20Cowpland%20diamond-pierced%20navel&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wp | title=Random Excess: The Wild Ride of Michael Cowpland and Corel | author=Ross Laver | publisher=] | year=1998 | isbn=0-670-87972-X | accessdate=November 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ian Austen |title=Tracking down the enigma of Silicon Valley North |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/30-years-silicon-valley-north-and-its-enigma/article19288247/ |work=The Globe And Mail |date=24 June 2014}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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Latest revision as of 19:23, 21 December 2024
British businessman
This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Michael Cowpland" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Michael Cowpland | |
---|---|
Born | (1943-04-23) April 23, 1943 (age 81) Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England |
Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur and business executive |
Known for | Founder of Corel |
Michael Cowpland (born April 23, 1943 in Bexhill-on-Sea) is a British-born Canadian businessman. He is the founder and one-time president, chairman and CEO of Corel, a Canadian software company.
Career
Mitel
Cowpland worked for Bell Northern Research (later part of Nortel Networks), then MicroSystems International. In 1973, Cowpland and Terry Matthews founded Mitel Corporation, a company that developed and sold electronic PBX systems. Initial success made both founders millionaires. Sales peaked at $250 million, but over-expansion and development problems saw the company bought by British Telecom. Both Cowpland and Matthews left the company in 1984 amid disagreements with the owners.
Corel
Matthews went on to found Newbridge Networks, while Cowpland launched Cowpland Research Laboratory (soon Corel) in Ottawa in 1985. At first, the company sold DTP workstations, but success did not arrive until the launch of the graphics software CorelDRAW in 1989.
In 1996, he offered a challenge to Microsoft with a move into productivity software, acquiring WordPerfect from Novell for $158 million. However this was unsuccessful as Microsoft managed to get many new computers loaded with Microsoft Word along with Windows. The company also made unsuccessful forays into CAD, videoconferencing, Java, Linux and other developments.
He was investigated by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) in 1999–2000 regarding allegations that he had used insider information to sell $20 million in Corel shares at $8/share shortly before the company posted disappointing results. The two sides settled the case in 2003, with Cowpland agreeing to pay $575,000. Subsequent to Cowpland's alleged insider sale at $8, Corel shares hit a peak of $60/share around November 1999, during the height of the Linux boom when Corel's Desktop Linux was seen to be a potential rival to Microsoft Windows.
Michael resigned as Corel's CEO in August 2000.
After an unsuccessful attempt to buy Borland with a view to creating a critical mass for Linux, Cowpland left Corel in August 2000, and moved on to buy control of ZIM corporation, a database and mobile content company which is listed on the NASDAQ bulletin board (ZIMCF).
Personal life
He was married to his first wife Darlene until 1991 when they divorced. They have two daughters, Paula and Christine. In 1992, he married his second wife, Marlen Cowpland. The couple live in a $14-million 1,800-square-metre mansion in Rockcliffe Park, Ontario.
References
- "End of an era: Terry Matthews, board members bid farewell to Mitel following $2B acquisition | Ottawa Business Journal". www.obj.ca.
- James Bagnall (13 August 2017). "The Capital Builders: A who's who of tech giants who not only survived – but thrived". Ottawa Citizen.
- "BlackBerry Ltd isn't the first Canadian tech company to go from rockstar to (near) ruin". Financial Post. 8 November 2013.
- "Ontario Securities Commission - Order - in the Matter of M.C.J.C. Holdings Inc. And Michael Cowpland - CVMO". Archived from the original on 3 May 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2006.
- ^ Staff (12 February 2002). "Cowpland holding company fined $1 million for illegal insider trading". CBC News.
- Ross Laver (1998). Random Excess: The Wild Ride of Michael Cowpland and Corel. Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-87972-X. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- Ian Austen (24 June 2014). "Tracking down the enigma of Silicon Valley North". The Globe And Mail.
- 1943 births
- Living people
- 20th-century Canadian businesspeople
- 20th-century English businesspeople
- 21st-century Canadian businesspeople
- 21st-century English businesspeople
- Businesspeople from Ottawa
- Canadian chairpersons of corporations
- Canadian computer businesspeople
- Canadian technology chief executives
- Canadian technology company founders
- Carleton University alumni
- Corel
- English chief executives
- English emigrants to Canada
- Nortel employees
- People from Bexhill-on-Sea