WOODCLIFF LAKE, New Jersey, July 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- Executive Brings Deep Expertise and New Vision to Performance-Driven Data Management and Data Protection Software Company

Syncsort, a global leader in high-performance data processing, data integration and data protection and recovery software, today announced that Flavio Santoni has joined as Chief Executive Officer. With more than 25 years of experience in the IT market, Santoni will lead the strategic direction and operations of Syncsort worldwide.

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Syncsort has a strong heritage and proven track record of providing distinct value to customers worldwide, Santoni said. Across industries and in some of the most demanding environments, Syncsort software brings high-performance, highly-efficient hardware utilization and ease of use. I am honored by the opportunity to lead Syncsort in unlocking greater opportunities for the value it delivers.

Santoni's appointment comes on the heels of Syncsort's recapitalization by Insight Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners and Goldman Sachs. This is the first time the company has invited outside investment in its 40-year history. Aso O. Tavitian, Syncsort's founder, will remain a key stakeholder and active participant on the Syncsort Board of Directors.

Flavio is a seasoned executive with proven success in growing global IT organizations, said Tavitian. His experience and vision for the future strengthen Syncsort's management team and will accelerate the company's pace of growth.

Peter Sobiloff, Managing Director at Insight Venture Partners and Chairman of Syncsort's Board of Directors, added, Private companies of Syncsort's size and profitability are very rare assets in the software industry. Leaders who can drive such companies down a path of further profitable growth are equally rare. Flavio Santoni is one of those leaders and we are excited to have him at the helm. Insight had been looking for an opportunity to invest in Syncsort for over a decade and now its full resources and those of our co-investors are at Syncsort's disposal.

Santoni joins Syncsort from LSI Corporation, where he was co-general manager of its Engenio Storage Group. Prior to joining LSI, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Sutmyn Storage Corporation. He earned a degree in electronics from IX Istituto Tecnico, Milan, Italy, and has completed the Stanford University AeA/Stanford Executive Institute program for the management of high technology companies.

About Syncsort Incorporated

Syncsort is a global software company that speeds data processing, data integration, and data protection recovery. Supported by a professional services team built on 40 years of expertise, Syncsort helps customers drive ROI with software solutions that combine high performance, optimal hardware utilization, and ease of use. With over 12,000 deployments worldwide, Syncsort customers include 96 of the Fortune 100 companies. Syncsort is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, and has international subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, with support centers in the United States and Netherlands. An international network of partners, resellers and distributors positions Syncsort products as an integral component of IT solutions. For more information call +1-201-930-8200 (1-877-FAST-951 in the US and Canada) or visit: www.syncsort.com.

SOURCE: Syncsort Incorporated

Kevin King of Horn Group for Syncsort Incorporated, +1-646-202-9781, kking@horngroup.com / Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000922/SYNCSORTLOGO