Cassatt Corporation
William T. Coleman III | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 October 1947 |
| Died | 29 November 2020 (aged 73) |
| Occupation(s) | Technology executive, entrepreneur |
| Known for | CEO of Veritas Technologies; founder, chairman, and CEO of BEA Systems and Cassatt Corporation; partner at Alsop Louie Partners; board member at Symantec Corporation |
William T. Coleman III (October 16, 1947 – November 29, 2020) was a prominent American executive who held the position of CEO at Veritas Technologies. He was a partner at Alsop Louie Partners and the founder, chairman, and CEO of multiple influential enterprises, including BEA Systems and Cassatt Corporation. Beginning in 2003, Coleman also served on the board of Symantec Corporation.
Early life and education
Coleman was born on October 16, 1947. He obtained a bachelor's degree in computer science from the United States Air Force Academy and earned master's degrees in both computer science and computer engineering from Stanford University. Additionally, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Colorado.
Career
Coleman’s professional journey started with the United States Air Force, where he held the role of Chief of Satellite Operations within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. In 1995, he co-established BEA Systems, acting as chairman and CEO until 2001, then transitioning to chairman and chief strategy officer through 2002. BEA Systems focused on enterprise application and service infrastructure software; by 2001, Coleman's ownership stake was valued at $500 million.
Before founding BEA Systems, Coleman directed professional services and software development at Sun Microsystems and co-founded Dest Systems, where he served as head of engineering. His earlier career also included positions at VisiCorp and GTE Sylvania. From June 2010 onward, he took on the role of operating partner at Alsop Louie Partners, concentrating on investments in early-stage technology ventures.
Beginning in 2003, Coleman was a board member at Symantec Corp., contributing as part of its audit committee. He was involved with the Trilateral Commission, provided guidance to Warburg Pincus’s Information Technology Advisory Board, and held board memberships at Nexant, Inc., Cassatt Corporation, Palm, Inc., as well as Business Executives for National Security.
Alsop Louie Partners
Starting in December 2010, Coleman served as an operating partner at Alsop Louie Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage technology investments.
Cassatt Corporation
Coleman founded Cassatt Corporation and led it as chairman and CEO from August 2003 until June 2009. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Cassatt offered software solutions and services that enabled businesses to develop flexible architectures capable of adapting to changing workplace demands. The company received backing from Warburg Pincus LLP, a global private equity firm, with leadership including Coleman alongside executives like Brian Berliner and Mark Forman.
Veritas Technologies
In 2015, The Carlyle Group executed the largest IT buyout by acquiring Veritas Technologies—the data backup and information management segment spun off from Symantec. The deal finalized in January 2016, with Bill Coleman appointed as CEO to steer the company’s strategic expansion under Carlyle’s ownership.
Death
Coleman died from pancreatic cancer on November 29, 2020, at the age of 73.
Honors
Since 2003, Coleman appeared annually on the Forbes Global 2000 list, achieving a ranking of 827th in 2010. He was also featured among Forbes’ 400 Best Big Companies between 2003 and 2005. Other accolades include:
- Inclusion in Asian Fab 50 (2003, 2004)
- Placement on Forbes 500s for Profits (ranked 397th in 2003) and Market Value (259th in 2003; also listed in 2002)
- Appearance on Forbes Executive Pay list (733rd in 2001)
In 2001, Coleman earned the title Entrepreneur of the Year awarded by Ernst & Young alongside the Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado, Boulder. That same year, Business Week named him among its E-biz 25 Top Executives.
Philanthropy
Motivated by the cognitive challenges faced by his niece and the progress achieved through technological interventions, Coleman and his wife dedicated their philanthropic efforts to advancing treatments for cognitive disabilities using technology. In 2000, they collaborated with the University of Colorado to fund the creation of the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, where Coleman took on the role of president. Additionally, they founded the Coleman-Turner Chair in Cognitive Disability, appointing David Braddock, PhD, as its executive director.
The Coleman Institute
Founded in 2001, the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities aims to enhance science, engineering, and technology to improve life quality and foster independent living for people with cognitive impairments. The institute began with an initial endowment of $250 million, supplemented by continuous annual contributions that sustain its research initiatives and programs.