Big Data Firm Saffron Hires Sheppard as CEO

US-based big data analytics firm Saffron Technology has appointed software industry veteran Gayle Sheppard as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding co-founder Manny Aparicio, who will continue in the role of 'Chief Memory Maker'.

Cary, NC-based Saffron, which was founded in 1999, develops 'predictive sense making analytics' which are based on 'associative memory' - ie, the way the brain remembers connections and similarities. The company's intelligence tool SaffronMemoryBase offers a cross-industry analytics platform which supports experience-based prediction.

Sheppard (pictured) has 25 years' software industry experience. She has served as Saffron's Executive Chair on its Board of Directors for the past four years and will continue in this role. Prior to Saffron, she was VP and MD at PeopleSoft, CEO and President of MarketMile, and led the development and growth of J.D. Edwards' AsiaPac business as well as the firm's launch in Japan.

Aparicio comments: 'Gayle brings such passion, dedication and experience to the role. She is building a strong team around her, and she has a clear vision for the future direction of the company. This is a very exciting announcement for me personally, not only because it recognizes her excellence and outstanding achievements over the years, but it also feels great to know that the company is in very capable hands for the future... for our customers and our employees.'

Web site: www.saffrontech.com .