Business optimisation software vendor, Mercury Interactive, has appointed Graham Sowden as president of Asia Pacific, based in Sydney. Sowden has served as managing director for Mercury's Australia operations since 2000. He has more than 16 years of experience in the enterprise software and technology industry. Prior to Mercury, Sowden was managing director of Progress Software, a provider of embedded database software technology, for two and a half years. Prior to joining Progress Software, Sowden was a ten-year veteran at Fujitsu (UK) where he headed up various customer support, sales management and general management roles. He joined Mercury in 2000 to lead its Australian operations. In his new role, Sowden will oversee the APAC region, not including Japan. He replaces former Japan and Asia Pacific president Wilson Tan.

Storage vendor, Hitachi Data Systems, has appointed Scott Familton as the new practice manager for managed services in the Asia Pacific region. Familton previously worked at Veritas and IBM, where he managed several large customers as strategic account manager.

Enterprise applications provider SSA Global has appointed Graeme Riley as managing director, SSA Global Pacific Region. Mr Riley will report to Jeremy Goddard, vice president, South Asia Pacific, SSA Global. Mr Riley held the former position of general manager for SSA Global New Zealand. He joined SSA Global in January 2004 as general manager for SSA Global New Zealand and has over 30 years of experience in IT management.  He began his career at Computer Consultants where he was the operations manager providing national Mitsubishi dealer networks with IT solutions. From there he established his own computer bureau company called Valley Computers.  Mr Riley then joined GEAC Computer Corporation as managing director, Asia/Pacific. He replaces Jeremy Goddard, who has been promoted to SSA Global’s regional vice president for the South Asia & Pacific region.