ShoreTel lets Joos loose aboot its hoose

Operations SVP Don Joos promoted to CEO as vendor posts strong growth to break $300m sales

ShoreTel has promoted Don Joos to the chief executive position as announced FY13 revenue surged past the $300m mark.

During its fourth fiscal quarter, which ran to the end of June, the Californian vendor saw global sales grow 9.1 per cent year on year to $85.6m (£55.1m). Quarterly operational losses narrowed from $4.3m in the corresponding period last year to $1.7m this time out. For the full year sales spiked 27.1 per cent annually to $313.5m, while operating losses widened by 13.1 per cent to $22.9m.

Outgoing chief executive Peter Blackmore, who announced his retirement in May, claimed that growth was, in part, fuelled by revenues from the ShoreTel sky cloud offering, which launched halfway through FY12.

"With our continued focus on improving operating efficiencies and sales productivity we drove our non-GAAP operating expenses to 57 per cent of revenue in the fourth quarter," added Blackmore. "Coupled with the projected growth in our target markets, we are positioned for continued profitability in fiscal 2014."

ShoreTel also announced today that its retiring leader is to be replaced by Don Joos (pictured). The new head honcho joined the comms vendor two years ago as its services chief, and for the last 12 months has held the post of senior vice president of business operations. Before joining ShoreTel, Joos held a VP post for nine years at Avaya, and has also worked for Nortel and Williams Communications Solutions.

"ShoreTel now has the opportunity to extend its leadership position by fully integrating its cloud offering across its suite of unified communications products," said Joos. "With some of the highest customer satisfaction in the business, world-class employees and a strong track record of innovation, the company's prospects are unlimited. I look forward to working with the ShoreTel team during this very exciting time to further accelerate our recent progress."