Oral history interview with John Landry

Abstract

John Landry’s experience in the computer software industry spans a wide range of computer applications, designed and developed while working for a number of prominent independent software companies. He was the technical leader at McCormack & Dodge in architecting their accounting system and at a later point in designing and building Millenium which was a significant advance in constructing online applications systems. After M&D was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet, Landry and Bob Weiler joined Distribution Management System and developed an expert system which could be incorporated into commercial applications. Landry then sold the company to Cullinet, and he tells how he got Cullinet to invest in building client/server systems. He talks about convincing the Cullinet Board to sell the company to Computer Associates, somewhat over John Cullinane’s objections. Landry then describes going back to work at Dun & Bradstreet and later joining Lotus Development. He was instrumental in supporting Ray Ozzie in building Lotus Notes and in the sale of Lotus to IBM. He concludes by discussing his consulting work for IBM and specifically as an advisor to Lou Gerstner and becoming an investor in a series of new technology companies.