ProSoft Technology: Sharratt dies; new CEO named

At age 50, Douglas Sharratt, president and founder of ProSoft Technology, died in a plane crash. A successor is named.

By Control Engineering Staff July 23, 2008

Bakersfield, CA – Douglas Sharratt, president and founder of ProSoft Technology, died in a plane crash on July 16; the company said he was the only person aboard. ( Story updated on July 23 .) Gary Joke, previously chief financial officer, was named president and CEO, according to Sharratt’s succession plan, cited by ProSoft.According to a statement on the company Website updated this week, “In accordance with Doug Sharratt’s succession plan and effective immediately, the current chief financial officer for ProSoft Technology, Gary Joke, has assumed his new position as the president and CEO for the company. ProSoft’s current management team is unanimously supportive.” For a time,The ProSoft site offers this about Sharratt: “Doug started ProSoft Technology in his garage 20 years ago and built it into the multi-million dollar firm it is today. Even though the company had grown from a one-man operation to over 100 employees and 15 offices around the world, the spirit of the company still reflected Doug’s passion for ‘making work fun’ as he used to say.”The ProSoft Technology site has voice recording, and a place to leave your thoughts about Sharratt’s life for his family and co-workers.

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske , editor in chief Control Engineering News Desk Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .