As part of the announcement, MySQL has acquired Starkey's small, private Web application technology firm, Netfrastructure. His wife, Ann Harrison, will also join MySQL's architecture group on a part-time basis.

"I'm very happy that Jim, Ann and Taneli have joined MySQL AB," said Michael "Monty" Widenius, the company's co-founder. "There is plenty of work to go around, and with their combined experience, they can help us deliver on all the plans that we haven't had time to pursue yet -- and also supply us with lots of fresh new ideas."

Jim Starkey Bio

Jim Starkey is a true pioneer in the relational database field, having designed DEC's relational database architecture and created the InterBase RDBMS. InterBase was the first relational database to support multi-versioning, event alerters, arrays, triggers, and BLOBs. He and Ann Harrison worked on the design and development of InterBase through its various owners, including InterBase Software Corp., which Starkey founded, Ashton-Tate, and Borland International -- and since 2000 on its related open source software project, Firebird.

Over the years, Starkey has produced a range of other innovative software solutions that have changed the way people have developed and used software, including Web application development environments, object-oriented tools, and visual IDEs.

Taneli Otala Bio

Taneli Otala has over 20 years of experience architecting and driving the software development process for a number of leading data management-related companies, including large ISVs and successful start-ups. Prior to joining MySQL, he served as CTO and vice president of Engineering for SenSage, a provider of enterprise security analytics. Mr. Otala has also held executive and senior engineering management positions with Oracle Corporation, Verano, Zambeel, GlobalCenter/Global Crossing, Alcom Corp and founded Otasoft Oy, Inc. He studied electrical and mechanical engineering at the University of Oulu in his native Finland.

About MySQL

MySQL AB develops and supports a family of high performance, affordable database products -- including MySQL Network, a comprehensive set of certified software and premium support services. The company's flagship product is MySQL, the world's most popular open source database, with more than 8 million active installations. Many of the world's largest organizations, including Yahoo!, Alcatel, The Associated Press, Suzuki and NASA are realizing significant cost savings by using MySQL to power high-volume Web sites, business-critical enterprise applications and packaged software.

With headquarters in Sweden and the United States -- and operations around the world -- MySQL AB supports both open source values and corporate customers' needs in a profitable, sustainable business. For more information about MySQL, please visit www.mysql.com.

MySQL is a registered trademark of MySQL AB in the USA and other countries. Other products mentioned may be trademarks of their respective companies.