History (1996): StorageTek CEO and COB Ryal Poppa Retired

Ryal R. Poppa, 62, COB, president and CEO of Storage Technology (Louisville, CO) will retire from active management of the company at the end of his employment contract which extends through January 1997.

“While I will continue with my normal duties during 1996, I will focus on the re-architecting effort that is being led by David Weiss [COO], David Lacey [interim CFO] and myself,” said Poppa.

He added that Weiss is a leading candidate for the position of CEO but the board of directors is interested in exploring all options before making this decision

This article is an abstract of news published on the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter on issue 96, published on January 1996.

Note: Poppa died in Manhattan Beach, CA, in 2008, leaving his wife of 56 years Ruth Ann, daughters Sheryl Tobelmann and Kim Jagd, as well as grandchildren Allison and Alex Griffing, Nikk and Ryal Jagd.