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Facing plans for dramatic growth at his computer company, Wall Data Chairman and founder John Wall made a move that is becoming increasingly common for technology companies: He recruited and hired his own boss.
As technology companies flower, they confront a host of marketing and business problems that their founders, who might excel as engineers or scientists, are ill equipped to handle.
Enter the professional manager, often at the behest of nervous venture capitalists or stockholders. Sometimes this leadership transition is smooth. But it also can be acrimonious, erupting into a messy battle for control of the company as in the case of Apple computer.
Redmond-based Wall Data seems to be reveling in its management evolution. The four-year-old company looks to triple its sales -- to $4.8 million -- this year. It will turn the corner on profitability this quarter.
John Wall is frank about why the changes at his firm have gone smoothly. "It's a matter of putting your ego aside and doing what's right for the company if you want it to succeed," he says.
Wall Data is a manufacturer of data communications gateways for IBM systems. These software-driven gateways link IBM computer systems with personal computers, terminals, printers and a number of other non-IBM devices. Wall stands apart from its competitors...