The PLM Punks Take the Baton

Aras sent shockwaves through the PLM industry by announcing that former Siemens PLM CEO Tony Affuso has joined the company's Board of Directors. It’s another significant step forward for Aras’ growth, a major industry validation, and another eyebrow raiser for those who have been entrenched in PLM for a long time. You can read the formal announcement here and some initial reactions here and here.

The Punks From Andover

A PLM industry follower once referred to us as “The Punks from Andover,” to describe us as the noisy, ambitious upstart intent on shaking up the PLM establishment. That assessment rung true with the team at Aras. It sums up our company’s spirit and ethos.

The Punks from Andover just received another sizable industry validation, and we don’t have plans to quiet down soon. We’re hitting our stride with customers like Microsoft. Airbus, Huntington Ingalls, and most recently Schaeffler, and GM.

The best tech companies benefit from guidance and influence over their journey. And it’s often the industry pioneers who are the ones that help them unlock their full potential along the way. Aras is more dangerous than ever with Tony Affuso at our back.

Shock & Awe

Rock ‘n’ roll has always been a staple of Aras events; our CEO Peter Schroer’s signature intro music is AC/DC's Hells Bells, which is fitting, as the song suggests something significant about to arrive. At ACE 2017, the song had just faded when Peter shocked the audience like feedback through an amplifier by welcoming Tony Affuso to stage as our newest board member. There was pretty much a collective gasp from the audience, followed by a round of applause.

Following the main stage presentation, Tony was greeted by attendees, one after another, some who have known him for years, heard him speak at previous PLM events, or simply wanted to welcome him to the Aras community.  It was a surreal moment for many, seeing someone that has left a lasting impact on PLM join with the upstart Punk, clearly signaling – the Punks aren't going away.

In nearly every free moment, Tony engaged customers, prospects, and investors as if he had been with Aras for years. The ACE attendees were blown away by the opportunity to get a moment to chat with a PLM Rock Star.

Tony is one of the luminaries in PLM. No one knows PLM – the technology, the industry, the customers – like him, and over a 20-year period, he led UGS and Siemens PLM through significant growth. I have personally known him for more than 10 years now, and I can say that not only is he a wealth of knowledge, he is a great person whom I respect immensely.

Tony was also one of the earliest PLM disruptors, driving Unigraphics and Iman, a forefather of modern PLM, while at UGS. He’s now going to help change the PLM game again with Aras.