Novell, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has elected President Ronald W. Hovsepian, 45, to the additional position of chief executive officer, effective immediately. Hovsepian, who also has been elected to the Board of Directors, has been president and chief operating officer since October 2005. The Company also announced that Thomas G. Plaskett, a director of Novell since November 2002, has been elected non-executive Chairman of the Novell Board.

Novell's Board of Directors has determined that former CEO Jack L. Messman, 66, and former CFO Joseph S. Tibbetts, Jr., 53, will leave Novell's employment, effective June 21. Mr. Messman will remain on Novell's Board of Directors until Oct. 31, 2006. Dana C. Russell, 44, Novell's current vice president of finance and corporate controller, has been appointed interim CFO while the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

Mr. Plaskett stated: "The Board concluded that a management change would be the best way to accelerate the execution of our growth strategy."

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