Oracle has formed a new organization, focused on the cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) and helmed by executive VP Don Johnson.
Oracle has been making significant headway in the cloud market, although it still lags behind market leaders AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. Nonetheless, the company is doubling down on its cloud and AI business, and has scored some big wins agains its bigger rivals.
According to Business Insider, Oracle is tapping Don Johnson, the former Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) boss to run the new organization, called Oracle Cloud Platform & AI Services. Johnson was once considered a top contender for the co-CEO job, making his appointment to the new role an indication of its importance.
Interestingly, the new organization does not replace or operate independently of OCI, but will serve as an extension and expansion of it.
“It’s important to note: this is an extension of OCI, not a division of it,” said an email announcing the change that was seen by Business Insider. “Together we’ll operate this as a unified OCI team, with a common all-hands, product roadmap, the usual meetings and processes, etc. One big tent and a common culture.”
The email also emphasized how much the company is betting on the cloud moving forward.
“Oracle is now fundamentally a cloud company, with a clear and simple vision: a marriage of the best cloud infrastructure, and leading data platform, together with the most pervasive cloud applications,” the email continued.