Opera co-founder and CEO quits

Lars Boilesen handed baton by Jon von Tetzchner

Opera's CEO and co-founder, Jon von Tetzchner, has stepped down from his role at the company.

The Norwegian browser maker said yesterday that von Tetzchner will be replaced by Lars Boilesen as Opera's new boss.

Plain-speaking von Tetzchner co-founded Opera in 1995, since when he has served as the firm's CEO.

Boilesen had worked as a veep on the company's board of directors, before assuming the job of Chief Exec yesterday. He previously held the role of sales boss at Opera from 2000 to 2005.

He then had a brief flirtation with Alcatel-Lucent, where he served as CEO of the Nordics and Baltics region, only to return to the Opera fold a year ago as Chief Commercial Officer.

Von Tetzchner will continue to work full-time at Opera as a strategic consultant.

"I was very happy about convincing Lars to come back to Opera one year ago. Today, I am very excited about asking him to take over as CEO as we continue our growth and global expansion," said von Tetzchner.

"We have worked closely together for many years and I am certain that he is the right person to lead Opera into a very bright future." ®