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Ultimate Software Adds Prominent HCM Industry Leaders to Management Team

^{Published on 2010-12-10 04:11:35 - Market Wire}
 

WESTON, Fla.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Ultimate Software (Nasdaq: ULTI), [ a leading provider of unified, end-to-end human capital management (HCM) SaaS solutions for global businesses ], today announced the expansion of its leadership team with two senior HCM professionals. Taking on key positions in the product strategy and development of UltiPro, Ultimatea™s global HCM solution, Cecile Alper-Leroux has joined Ultimate as vice president of strategic HCM, and Andrew McCarthy has been appointed Ultimatea™s vice president of market strategy.

"Hands down the #1 reason I joined Ultimate is our focus on our people. Hearing the Ultimate teama™s enthusiasm and conviction for what they do is contagiousa"and I wanted to be a part of such a passionate company"

These appointments enable Ultimate to tap the expertise of respected HCM and technology veterans who collectively bring decades of experience in solution development, product management, product strategy, and delivery.

Joining Ultimatea™s product development leadership team as vice president of strategic HCM, Cecile Alper-Leroux will drive the global vision and product direction for Ultimatea™s complete line of HCM solutions. Her goals include expanding [ UltiProa™s capabilities as a central platform for global employee management ]. Alper-Leroux brings more than 15 years of experience to Ultimate, both as an HR practitioner and an expert in HRMS product strategy. She comes to Ultimate Software after a successful 13-year career with Minneapolis-based Lawson Software, where she guided product strategy and worked closely with the sales and implementation teams.

aI was tremendously energized by [ Ultimatea™s global service and technology vision ],a said Alper-Leroux. aUltimatea™s strategy is driven by business needs and outcomes, not technology for the sake of technologya"and that means ultimately delivering better products and services to the market. I was also impressed with Ultimatea™s uncompromising commitment to doing right by its employees and customers. Ia™m honored to join a team whose renowned apeople passiona™ is recognized so frequently by the industry.a

As vice president of market strategy, Andrew McCarthy will focus on Ultimatea™s high-level vision, solution positioning, and strategic relationships. For more than 20 years, McCarthy has been leading strategy and communications programs for global technology companies. After successful consulting work for industry leaders including IBM, Xerox, Motorola, and Sun Microsystems, he joined PeopleSoft in 1997. He later led communications teams at VERITAS through the companya™s merger with Symantec. Most recently, McCarthy played a pivotal role in developing the market strategy and strategic relationships for Workday, Inc.

aThe single biggest factor in my decision to join Ultimate was the companya™s [ tremendous track record for delighting its customers ],a said McCarthy. aUltimatea™s reputation for customer satisfaction is among the best Ia™ve seen in more than 20 years in the enterprise software and SaaS markets. I was also struck by Ultimatea™s refreshingly success-oriented culture. Ia™m excited about this opportunity to play an integral role in defining Ultimatea™s strategy as we build the next generation of HCM solutions.a

McCarthy joins other recent additions to the product strategy leadership team, including Vice President of Product Strategy Zach Thomas, who joined Ultimate in August 2009. Thomas previously served as a senior research analyst at Forrester Research, where his primary research areas included HCM process and technology. Before joining Forrester, Thomas directed product management, strategy, and consulting at two leading human capital software and consulting firms.

aAs an industry analyst for the past several years, I had intimate access to the HCM solution spacea"and I was consistently impressed with [ Ultimatea™s visionary solutions and technology innovation ],a said Thomas. aAs I got to know the people at Ultimate, I was equally intrigued by their unique culture. I believe this combination of product vision and winning culture gives Ultimate incredible growth potential to build its leadership in the market, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.a

Another recent addition to the product strategy management team, Lisa Sterling joined Ultimate as director of global talent management in February 2010. Sterling previously served as a principal at talent-management provider Kenexa, where she maintained primary responsibility for performance management, succession planning, and talent development.

aHands down the #1 reason I joined Ultimate is our focus on our people. Hearing the Ultimate teama™s enthusiasm and conviction for what they do is contagiousa"and I wanted to be a part of such a passionate company,a said Sterling. aAnother main factor was [ Ultimatea™s laser-focus on HCM ] and its reputation for never deviating from that focus. When you look at what Ultimate has accomplished, a key ingredient has been its insistence on remaining true to the companya™s core vision. Rather than jumping on the newest trend, Ultimate introduces [ thoughtful innovation that delivers real value to its customers ].a

aOur success as a company has always been a [ direct result of having the most passionate and talented workforce in the HCM industry ],a said Scott Scherr, CEO, president, and founder of Ultimate Software. aAs we continue to evolve as a business, our future growth requires that we expand our leadership team with a#1 draft picks.a™ The addition of these high-caliber professionals reflects our companya™s significant commitment to enhancing our [ global solution ] and remaining at the forefront of HCM technology.a

About Ultimate

A leading provider of unified human capital management SaaS solutions for global businesses, Ultimate markets its award-winning UltiPro solution as an on-demand service through Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Based in Weston, FL, Ultimate employs approximately 1,100 professionals who are focused on developing the highest quality products and services. In 2010, Ultimate was named an Optimas Award winner by Workforce Management magazine. In 2009, Ultimate was awarded first place in the Peoplea™s Choice Stevie® competition for Favorite New SaaS Product and was ranked the #1 best medium-sized company to work for in America by the Great Place to Work® Institute for the second consecutive year. In 2008, Ultimate was the first HR/payroll SaaS provider to be audited and awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 Certification for security management and was recognized for having the #1 aBest Product Development Teama in the nation by the American Business Awards. Ultimate has more than 2,000 customers representing diverse industries, including such organizations as Adobe Systems Incorporated, The Container Store, Culligan International, Elizabeth Arden, Major League Baseball, The New York Yankees Baseball Team, and Rutha™s Chris Steak House. More information on Ultimatea™s products and services can be found at [ www.ultimatesoftware.com ].

UltiPro is a registered trademark of The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

Follow Ultimate Software on Twitter: [ www.twitter.com/UltimateHCM ]