Del Yocam

Delbert W. Yocam (born December 24, 1943) is an American technology executive. Yocam is a former chairman and CEO of Borland, former president, COO & director of Tektronix and a former Apple Computer executive. At Apple, during the 1980s, Yocam ran the Apple II group and later became Apple's first chief operating officer (COO). He is currently on the board of directors at Adobe Systems.

Education

Yocam has a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree from California State University and was honored as a "Distinguished Alumnus" in 1988 and 1999. He completed Directors' College at Stanford Law School in 1996 and 2003, and also at the University of Delaware in 2005. Yocam also completed Harvard's Executive Education program "Making Corporate Boards More Effective" at Harvard Business School in 2005.

Career

Yocam started his business executive career with management positions at the Ford Motor Company in the 1960's and moved into technology in the 1970's. Prior to his ten years at Apple Computer, Inc. , Yocam held positions with Control Data Corp., Computer Automation, Inc., and the Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp.,

He joined Apple Computer in 1979 as vice president of manufacturing and operations. He was the executive vice president and general manager of the Apple II group from 1983 until 1985. From 1986 until 1988, he served as executive vice president and Apple's first Chief Operating Officer (COO). After three years as COO, Yocam became President of Apple Pacific. In this position, Yocam was responsible for strengthening Apple's markets in Canada, Australia, and Japan, while investing in emerging markets in the Far East and Latin America. He retired from Apple on his tenth year anniversary in 1989.

Yocam was president, chief operating officer (COO) and a director of Tektronix, Inc. He joined the Wilsonville, Oregon, manufacturer of test and measurement equipment, computer graphics products and television systems in 1992. He is credited with turning around the company, providing eight consecutive quarters of improved core operating income and with refocusing the company's research and development spending, so that more than 50% of revenues came from new products, compared with 22% in 1991. His three year contract was completed in 1995.

Yocam was chairman and CEO of Borland International, Inc Scotts Valley, CA a provider of software and services in 1996. He retired after the acquisition of Visigenics Software, Inc. was completed in 1999.

Board positions

Yocam has served on the Board of directors of Adobe Systems Inc. (1991 - 2009), Softricity, Inc. (2001–2006) acquired by Microsoft, Inc. in 2006, Xircom, Inc. (1996–2001) acquired by Intel Corp. in 2001, Raster Graphics, Inc. (1995–1999), Hollywood Park, Inc. (1997–1998), Boomtown, Inc. (1995–1997) acquired by Hollywood Park, Inc. in 1997, Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc. (1995–1997), Oracle Corp. (1992–1997), Sapiens International Corp. (1995–1997), and AST Research, Inc. (1992–1995).

Additionally, Yocam has served on the board of directors of The Tech Museum of Innovation (1987–1990, Vice Chairman 1989–1990), on the national board of directors of the American Electronics Association (1989) and on the special advisory council to the Office of Technology Assessment of the United States Congress (1986–1988).

References

• A Conversation with Del Yocam – Nathan Bennett & Stephen A. Mile (pg. 110–115), Riding Shotgun, the Role of the COO (2006) ISBN 0-8047-5166-8, Stanford Business Books
• Miracle Men – Kenny MacIver & Robert L. Glass (pg. 13–20), Computing Calamities: Lessons Learned From Products, Projects, and Companies that Failed (1998) ISBN 0-13-082862-9, Prentice Hall PTR

External links

• MacObserver – A Look Back At Apple People & Apple History
• DevX Interview

Persondata
Name	Yocam, Del
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 24, 1943
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death