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{{short description|British businessman}}
'''Michael Cowpland''' (born ], ]) is a ] entrepreneur, businessman, and the founder and one-time president, chairman and CEO of ], a Canadian software company.
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2009}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|4|23}}
| birth_place = ], ], England
| name = Michael Cowpland
| occupation = Entrepreneur and business executive
| known for = Founder of ]
}}
'''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>


==Early Life== ==Career==
===Mitel===
Cowpland was born in ], ], ] and obtained a BSc. in engineering from ] before moving to Canada in ]. He completed his masters (1968) and Ph.D. (1973) at ], ].
⚫ 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}}


==Mitel== ===Corel===
⚫ Matthews went on to found ], while Cowpland launched '''Co'''wpland '''Re'''search '''L'''aboratory (soon ]) in Ottawa in 1985. At first, the company sold ] workstations, but success did not arrive until the launch of the graphics software ] in 1989.
⚫ He worked for Bell Northern Research (later part of ]) and then ]. In ], 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 ] amid disagreements with the owners.


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.
==Corel==
⚫ Matthews went on to found ] while Cowpland launched '''Co'''wpland '''Re'''search '''L'''aboratory (soon Corel) in Ottawa in 1985. At first the company sold ] workstations, but success did not arrive until the launch of the graphics software ] in ].


⚫ 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>
In ] he offered a challenge to ] with a move into productivity software, acquiring ] from ] for $158 million. The company also made unsuccessful forays into ], ], ], ] and other developments.
⚫ 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" />
⚫ He was investigated by the ] (OSC) in 1999-2000 into allegations that he had used insider information to sell $20 million in Corel shares at $8/share shortly before the company posted disappointing results. This issue was settled in 2003
⚫ 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 version of Desktop Linux was seen to be a potential rival to Microsoft Windows.


After an unsuccessful attempt to buy Borland with a view of 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.]]
Cowpland has two daughters from his first marriage.
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==
] reported that Cowpland was frequently in Switzerland, at tennis courts or golf courses, while his programmers spent hours going over code. They also stated that he kept a drawer full of "youthful" drugs.
{{Reflist}}


⚫ {{DEFAULTSORT:Cowpland, Michael}}
In ] he married his second wife, ], a young ] best known for her diamond-pierced navel. Their honeymoon photos, showing Michael and Marlen posing in front of their private jet and ] sports car, generated much attention, as did the Corel Christmas Card which featured Marlen in a tight red suit.


]
They live in a 20,000 ft² house in ], Ottawa. While Rockcliffe Park is now as a traditional blue-blood district, neighbors were outraged by the Cowpland's frequent partying.
]
⚫ ], ]]]
]

]
Marlen later had a hit TV series "Celebrity Pets" for 2 years on CTV featuring interviews with 52 international celebrities and their pets.
]

]
⚫ {{DEFAULTSORT:Cowpland, Michael}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 19:23, 21 December 2024

British businessman

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Michael Cowpland
Born (1943-04-23) April 23, 1943 (age 81)
Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur and business executive
Known forFounder 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

Cowpland's unique home in Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa, 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 mansion in Rockcliffe Park, Ontario.

References

  1. "End of an era: Terry Matthews, board members bid farewell to Mitel following $2B acquisition | Ottawa Business Journal". www.obj.ca.
  2. James Bagnall (13 August 2017). "The Capital Builders: A who's who of tech giants who not only survived – but thrived". Ottawa Citizen.
  3. "BlackBerry Ltd isn't the first Canadian tech company to go from rockstar to (near) ruin". Financial Post. 8 November 2013.
  4. "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.
  5. ^ Staff (12 February 2002). "Cowpland holding company fined $1 million for illegal insider trading". CBC News.
  6. Ross Laver (1998). Random Excess: The Wild Ride of Michael Cowpland and Corel. Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-87972-X. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  7. Ian Austen (24 June 2014). "Tracking down the enigma of Silicon Valley North". The Globe And Mail.
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