Thomas Siebel

Thomas M. Siebel (born November 20, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois) is the chairman of [http://www.fvgroup.com First Virtual Group] , a diversified holding company with interests in commercial real estate, agribusiness, global investment management, and philanthropy.

Executive Positions

Mr. Siebel was the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Siebel Systems, which merged with Oracle Corporation in January 2006. Founded in 1993, Siebel Systems became a global leader in application software with more than 8,000 employees in 32 countries, over 4,500 corporate customers, and annual revenue in excess of $2 billion.

Before founding Siebel Systems, Mr. Siebel served as chief executive officer of Gain Technology, a multimedia software company that merged with Sybase in December 1992. From 1984 through 1990, he was an executive at Oracle Corporation, where he held a number of senior management positions.

He is a frequent industry spokesman and is the author of three books: "Taking Care of eBusiness" and "Cyber Rules", published by Doubleday, and "Virtual Selling", published by the Free Press.

Honors and Awards

Mr. Siebel serves on the Board of Advisors of the Stanford University College of Engineering and the University of Illinois College of Engineering. He is a Director of the University of Illinois Foundation, the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. He is the Founder and Chairman of the [http://www.methproject.org Meth Project] and the Siebel Scholars Foundation. In 2007, he was named one of The 50 Most Generous Philanthropists by "BusinessWeek". [ [http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/philanthropy_individual/ BusinessWeek] ]

Mr. Siebel received the David Packard Award for his achievements as a technology entrepreneur and his contributions to national security from the Business Executives for National Security in 2002 and was named one of the Top 25 Managers in the World by "BusinessWeek" in 2000 and 2001.

In 1999, 2000, and 2001, Fortune magazine recognized Siebel Systems as the fastest, third fastest, and second fastest growing company in the United States, respectively. Call Center Magazine inducted him to its Hall of Fame in 2000 in recognition for contributions to the business and technology of customer service.

*Lincoln Academy Laureate – The Lincoln Academy of Illinois, 2008
*The 50 Most Generous Philanthropists – BusinessWeek, 2007
*Thomas M. Siebel, Master Entrepreneur of the Year – Ernst & Young, 2003
*David Packard Award – Business Executives for National Security, 2002
*CEO of the Year – Industry Week, 2002
*One of Top 25 Managers in Global Business – BusinessWeek, 1999 to 2001
*University of Illinois Presidential Award and Medallion, 2001
*Top 10 CEOs - Investor’s Business Daily, 2000

Philanthropy

Mr. Siebel is the Chairman of the Siebel Foundation, founded in 1996, which is active in support of the homeless and underprivileged, educational and research programs, methamphetamine abuse prevention, and alternative energy solutions. The Siebel Foundation created the Siebel Scholars Foundation, the Dearborn Scholars Fund in Montana, and the [http://www.methproject.org Meth Project] Foundation. The Siebel Scholars Foundation endows scholarship funds at eight leading universities for graduate students in computer science and business who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and leadership.

With methamphetamine abuse and addiction reaching epidemic levels in Montana, he founded the Montana Meth Project, aimed at significantly decreasing the prevalence and frequency of methamphetamine use in the state. Since the Project's inception in 2005, Montana dropped from #5 in the country for Meth use to #39, there has been a 45% decrease in Meth use among teens, Meth use among adults has decreased 72%, and Meth-related crime has dropped 62%. [ [http://www.methproject.org The Meth Project] ] [ [http://www.siebelscholars.com Siebel Scholars] ] [ [http://www.montanameth.org Montana Meth Project] ] [ [http://www.notevenonce.com Not Even Once] ] [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5238116 Montana Uses Shock Tactic in War on Drugs] ]

In 2001, Mr. Siebel donated $32 million to his alma mater, the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to build the Siebel Center for Computer Science, opened in spring 2004. [ [http://siebelcenter.cs.uiuc.edu/ Siebel Center] Computer center at UIUC.] Mr. Siebel pledged a $100 million gift to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign again in 2007.

Education

Mr. Siebel is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received a B.A. in history, an M.B.A., a M.S. in computer science, and a Ph.D. (Hon.) in Engineering.

Private Life

A part-time Montana resident, Mr. Siebel owns and operates the Dearborn Ranch in Wolf Creek, Montana, and the N Bar Ranch in Grass Range, Montana, both working cattle ranches.

Tom Siebel has enjoyed a long history in Montana, spanning 35 years. His early experiences paved the way for his continued commitment to the area.

In the 2008 United States presidential election campaign, Mr. Siebel provided backing to the Republican ticket. It was Mr. Siebel who introduced Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin to the crowd at a California fund-raising brunch with the quote "Sarah Palin carries the flag of outrage "... for each of who cries out, 'We're mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore." [http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_10645486?nclick_check=1]

ee also

*List of billionaires

Books

*"Taking Care of eBusiness" (2001) ISBN 0-385-50227-3
*"Cyber Rules" (with Pat House) (2001) ISBN 84-7577-804-6
*"Virtual Selling" (with Michael Malone) (2002) ISBN 0-7432-3649-1

Notes

External links

* [http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/philanthropy_individual/ The 50 Most Generous Philanthropists]
* [http://www.tomsiebel.com/ Fan site for person and CRMS product]