Former Dell President to Head Columbia's MICROS

MICROS Systems has hired the former president of Dell Services to be its Chief Executive Officer.

Peter Altabef, a former CEO of Perot Systems and president at Dell, will replace long-time Micros CEO A.L. "Tom" Giannopoulos, according to a Micros statement.

Giannopoulos served as MICROS CEO since 1993 and will continue his duties until he retires in June of 2014, according to the statement.

"It has been a great pleasure and privilege to lead MICROS as Chief Executive Officer over the past twenty years," stated Giannopoulos. "In this two-decade period, MICROS has grown from a small, boutique hardware purveyor to the restaurant industry to one of the world's most dynamic and innovative technology solution providers."

The technology firm, which is based on Columbia Gateway Drive, specializes in making computer technology for restaurants, hotels and retail stores.

If you've ever watched a bartender or a waitress plug in your order at a restaurant there's a good chance he or she is using a Micros computer.

Altabef, 53, previously served as CEO of Perot systems, a technology provider to multi-national companies, until Perot was acquired by Dell in 2009. From 2009 to 2011 Altabef served as the President of Dell Services until he left in 2011, according to the statement.

MICROS is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Last year, the company posted a net income of $166.9 million on revenue of $1.017 billion.

"I am confident that we can continue to grow the company, whose foundations are strong and deep, and whose innovation in the markets we serve is unparalleled," said Altabef in the statement.

MICROS did not comment on Altabef's salary. In 2012, Giannopoulos received $8.7 million in compensation.

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