Jeff Ray: A Gentleman Walks Off the Stage

Jeff Ray introduced the new CEO in front of thousands gathered in San Antonio, Texas, at SolidWorks' big annual bash. Until recently, Jeff had been CEO. This was the last time Jeff would address the users this way. He is moving on to a new position at Dassault Systemes, the mother ship, as EVP of Global Operations, a position that is still to be defined.

Exit stage left. Jeff Ray waves goodbye to SolidWorks World as he leaves for a new post at SolidWorks' parent company Dassault Systemes.

SolidWorks World, which bills itself as the biggest gathering of MCAD users in the world, will miss Jeff, who may be its best emcee ever. Jeff was a natural on the big stage, talking to thousands was as easy for him as talking one on one, a perfect straight man for some of the antics he introduced, memorably the Myth Busters, the Star Trek farce, guys riding choppers onto the stage. You couldn’t faze Jeff. He once told me interviewing Virgin’s Richard Branson gave him the sweats -- he didn’t know how us press guys did it. But I think he was just being kind.

Jeff always looked clean and fresh, ready for whatever. I have never seen him in a suit but never in a T-shirt, either. You shake hands with Jeff and realize how your shirt is wrinkled and your shoes unpolished. The man looks like that after 20 hours on airplanes, like when we flew to Rwanda together. I wanted to ask his wife Cindy if his pajamas are ironed.

Rwanda is a mission for SolidWorks. They don’t brag about it, but they are helping a tiny company in a tiny country find its way from its past toward a brighter, technology-laced future. It’s not an easy task. Jeff has inherited the mission but he has adopted the cause. With SolidWorks generous donations, the Rwandans want to hoist him on their shoulders and parade him around. But Jeff is having none of that. It is the cause that is important. I listen as he promises additional software seats of SolidWorks to school officials. He lays a wreath at the Holocaust Museum for the victims of the Rwandan genocide. Somehow, it’s doing the right thing that is important.

Jeff Ray honors victims of the Rwanda genocide.

As I was helping with the Rwanda project, I often talked to Jeff. Each time, Jeff would listen closely, politely, giving me all the attention, as if you were the most important person and had the most important cause.  And it was no act. Often Jeff would impress by knowing details, about you, your publication, your project, previous emails and conversations… My god, multiply that by a thousand of me, as a busy CEO must have to do. How does he keep it straight? Yet somehow he does. In person, on stage, unflappable, his mind a vast database, sorting, fielding queries in real time. I try to imagine the needs of 900 employees, a million users, and a boss on the other side of the Atlantic -- and the press corps.

"How can I help?" he would say. I would tell him -- most of the time at cost to SolidWorks. The clear blue eyes wouldn't blink. The handshake was as good as gold.

What makes this guy tick? Jeff's son is in the Army. Was Jeff shaped by the military values of honor, virtue..? It turns out Jeff's father flews a spy plane during the cold war. But it wasn't the war stories of bullets buzzing past the cockpit that impressed Jeff the most. Jeff's father was told he had 6 months to live after being diagnosed with cancer. "He told the doctors to go to hell," Jeff says. "I'm going to live long enough to put my kids through college." He battled the cancer for 13 years and saw his youngest (Jeff's sister) graduate.

Jeff may not cut the same figure as his predecessors, both engineers, both who related to users at the gut level: where they worked. That wasn’t Jeff. But each of the customers Jeff meets makes some impression, are not forgotten. People are important. At his company, each employee is valued. Jeff tells me SolidWorks never had a round of layoffs during the recent recession.

Though Jeff’s pride in SolidWorks is evident, he wasn’t about to brag about his own accomplishments. So I asked SolidWorks for some metrics during Jeff’s tenure. SolidWorks had annual revenue of $135M when Jeff joined as COO in 2003. When he became CEO in 2007, revenue was up to $350M. He was just in time for the recession. But still, in SolidWorks last reportable year, 2009, revenue actually grew to $367M. Most CEO’s would have tried to keep profits up by cutting staff, a move that no doubt would have pleased Dassault shareholders. Jeff tells us there were NO layoffs at SolidWorks. Geez, I figure quite a few SolidWorks employees owe Jeff big time.

Hey, maybe this relating-to-the-user business is a bit overrated, like demanding your doctor have a good bedside manner. What’s important is not making a wrong turn on the way to your appendix. And keeping all the facts straight, being able to absorb new information, staying cool under pressure, keeping a positive attitude, doing your job, knowing what is important, what is good and what is right. 

 

Comments

[Jim Lowery, former president SASUG]

Jeff Ray came to our user group in San Antonio. He immediately put us at ease. What a wonderful man, his presentation was good too. When I introduced my self and called him Mr. Ray, he said please call me Jeff. That says it all.

[Bertrand Sicot]

Hi Roopinder.

I’d like to congratulate Jeff as well. He leaves behind some big boots to fill, and he will be missed very much here at SolidWorks. Something is telling me that he will keep in touch with the SolidWorks community.

[Bill Casnovsky]

Jeff Ray's visit at our Central Texas SolidWorks User Group meeting (CTSUG) amazed us all. This was the first time that any top Executive was willing to visit the guys in the trenches. Guess what: he was relaxed and very approachable. He took on any and all questions and issues that the Users had. He also shared his vision & strategy for SolidWorks going forward. We all left the meeting feeling that Jeff was there to protect our software investment and to deliver tools that would make our design jobs easier.

thanks,
Bill Casnovsky
President CTSUG

[Jeff Ray]

Hi Roopinder,
Thank you so much for your kind words.You personify what makes this industry so profoundly rewarding. If I've enjoyed any success, it's because someone at SolidWorks or in the community at large stopped me before I did something dumb! Please continue to hold us all to your high standards. My early days here in Velizy are exciting, and I come ready to work, confident in the richness of the SolidWorks experience to guide me. Bon voyage et bon courage.

[Joe N. Lance]

Roopinder,
At the OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) 2006 SolidWorks made the mistake of not getting a booth early enough to have a prime location… (The location was pretty bad that year)

Well needless to say my mission at SolidWorks World 2007 was to let Jeff Ray know that this was just unacceptable especially when our competitor has a nice large plush both inside.

Well as I approach Jeff and introduce myself he immediately said I knew you Joe and I can promise you it want happen again… and it never happen again.

But, these are the kind of stories that can be told over and over again about a great Person.

Jeff thanks for being first class all the way…

Joe N. Lance
Co: HOUSUG Leader

[Joe N. Lance]

Roopinder,
Jeff Ray! Enough Said…
Having Jeff at the HOUSUG on Monday June 18, 2007 was truly the highlight of all our HOUSUG meeting.

As I introduce Jeff as an Aggie you immediately saw and felt the audience welcome him with loud applause.

Jeff opened the meeting talking about the “The History of CAD” and opened up the floor for any and all questions… never blinking at any of the question, and answered with the claim cool collected charm. Only Jeff could do this with such ease as he took some very tough and negative question and answered them giving the user a great deal of confidence to leave knowing Jeff would be there for then at almost any cost.

My manager was one of the attendees that evening and he left having a better understanding of why I have the passion I do about SolidWorks and attending SolidWorks World and that the CEO really knew who I was.

Jeff Ray…Truly First Class…

Joe N. Lance
Co: HOUSUG Leader

[Jon Hirschtick]

Roopinder thank you for a well-written insight into Jeff. I remember meeting Jeff and thinking that here is a guy with billion-dollar-company management skills who is also a good cultural fit with the people-centered, fast-moving culture of ours. And that's what he delivered.

[Account Deleted]

Thanks Roopinder, for interesting information about Jeff Ray, great leader who drive SolidWorks to success during recession.
Hope he continues his magical work with the new position as Executive Vice President, Geographic Operations, and member of the Dassault Systems executive committee.

[Ken Hammer]

What a wonderful and accurate tribute. It should be added that this is old news to those of us who have known Jeff for decades: he has always been the high water mark by which all business managers (CEO or otherwise) and friends should be measured.

[Dan Bovinich]

Roopinder,

Jeff will be greatly missed. I like his "down-to-earth" attitude and how he listened to what you had to say. He came to our usergroup (EMSWUG) last year and he was a lot of fun and gave a great presentation about SolidWorks future. He was upbeat, forward thinking, and left a really good impression on our members. For SolidWorks ~ he was the right man at the right time. I'm sure Daussault will put him to good use.