InformationWeek

In an internal memo to PeopleSoft employees several weeks ago, Duffield said he was looking for a new president to help lead the company, but that he would stay on as CEO. However, according to a source close to the company, Duffield is looking to leave PeopleSoft and has begun investigating "transition possibilities" to be replaced as CEO. A PeopleSoft spokesman says Duffield has no plans to leave and will "continue on as CEO for the foreseeable future."

If he leaves, Duffield would be the latest in what's turning into a growing list of departing senior executives. Aneel Bhusri, considered Duffield's right-hand man,has already removed himself from the daily operations of the company, according to sources.Bhusri, who served as senior VP of product strategy, will instead be a vice-chairman at PeopleSoft, and will serve largely in an advisory role.

Earlier this month, CIO Stephen Zarate left to join E-commerce start-up Digital Insight Corp. in Calabasas, Calif. Also earlier this month, Al Duffield, the company's head of sales and Dave Duffield's brother, said he would retire later this year.

"The company is very disorganized right now," says David Dobrin, an analyst with Benchmarking Partners.

PeopleSoft rivals SAP, Baan, and Oracle have all experienced management changes in recent months as well. But analysts say the slowing ERP market coupled with PeopleSoft's problems may hasten the departure of more executives. Another factor: change in PeopleSoft's culture as it has grown. "The company today isn't the same one that [Duffield] started," says one source.