Dassault Systemes Completes Integration of IBM PLM Sales Operation

By DE Editors

Dassault Systèmes (DS) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have completed the transaction for IBM PLM’s sales and client support operations, encompassing DS’s PLM software application portfolio. The $600 million transaction includes customer contracts and related assets.

This transaction helps fuel IBM’s focus on PLM integration through middleware, business transformation and application services and dynamic infrastructure, and Dassault Systèmes PLM clients will benefit from a strong, unified go-to-market model encompassing the entire DS portfolio and providing a complete PLM value proposition under one umbrella, according to the companies.

Al Bunshaft, formerly global vice president of IBM PLM, has been appointed managing director of Dassault Systèmes’ Americas organization. Bunshaft joins Dassault Systèmes after more than 25 years of developing and delivering innovative enterprise solutions for IBM and its customers. In his new position, Bunshaft will be responsible for the structure, management and evolution of American business operations for Dassault Systèmes.

Tom Emmrich, who has been managing DS Americas operation since 2006, will take on the role of senior vice president, worldwide Services, Dassault Systèmes. He will be responsible for building the processes, methodologies and partner ecosystem for deployment of DS software offerings and penetration into new industries.

“This is an amazing and exciting time for IBM and DS,” says Bunshaft. “Both companies are convinced, now more than ever, of the fundamental value PLM brings to product design, development and a product's lifetime performance. By tapping into DS's new 3D and PLM collaborative technologies and IBM's expertise in enterprise integration and services, companies will find it easier to incorporate PLM into a core set of applications required for business success."

IBM and Dassault Systèmes have decided to extend their long-standing relationship and initiate a global alliance partnership. Under this agreement both IBM and DS will continue to jointly invest in developing, deploying and supporting client PLM environments, delivering solutions to their clients worldwide.

For more information, visit Dassault Systèmes and IBM. See the initial press release announcing the intention to integrate IBM’s PLM sales operation into DS here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.