'Amicable split' for Tadpole MD

The board of troubled notebook vendor Tadpole has ousted George Grey, MD and founder of the firm, and hired Bernard Hulme, ex-country manager of SCO, as a replacement.

Bob Booth, acting MD at Tadpole, said a board decision toppled Grey 10 days ago. 'Tadpole's been renowned for technical excellence but not for sales or marketing,' he said. 'Everyone was in agreement and the parting was amicable.'

The move ends the reign of the firm's founders, who have mostly been replaced. Booth said: 'There comes a time when certain other skills are required. Hulme has excellent networking skills in the industry.'

A source at the company was more forthright. 'They wanted to see the back of George because he was totally technically minded. They recognised they needed someone with sales and marketing experience.'

He said the research-minded firms based around Cambridge tended to militate against commercial success. 'Some of it stems from the guys at the top.'