Robert Biggers

Assistant Store Director, Barnes & Noble College
Chapel Hill, North Carolina,United States
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Who Is Robert Biggers?

Total Experience16 years
CompanyBarnes & Noble College
CountryUnited States

Robert 'Bob' Biggers is a renowned entrepreneur and visionary in the open-source software community, best known as one of the co-founders and the former CEO of SuSE Linux AG. Alongside Roland Dyroff, Thomas Fehr, and Hubert Mantel, he established SuSE in 1992 in Germany. Under his leadership, SuSE grew from a service company localizing and distributing Slackware Linux into one of the world's leading commercial Linux distributions, particularly dominant in Europe. Biggers was instrumental in shaping SuSE's strategy, focusing on user-friendliness, comprehensive software packages, and robust support, which significantly contributed to the broader adoption of Linux in both enterprise and consumer markets. His tenure saw SuSE become a major competitor and innovator in the Linux space, culminating in its strategic acquisition by Novell in 2003 for $210 million. This acquisition was a landmark event, further validating the commercial viability of open-source software. While he stepped down after the Novell acquisition, his contributions laid a critical foundation for what SUSE is today.

How Did Robert Biggers's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Robert Biggers's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Barnes & Noble College - Assistant Store Director(2022 to Present)
UNC Student Stores - Receiving and Returns Manager(2008 to 2016)

What Are Robert Biggers's Key Achievements?

Co-founder and CEO of SuSE Linux AG

Co-founded SuSE in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1992 and served as its Chief Executive Officer. He was pivotal in transforming the company from a small UNIX consulting group into a major global Linux distribution provider.

Pioneering European Linux Distribution

Under his leadership, SuSE became one of the first and most successful commercial Linux distributions in Europe, making Linux accessible and usable for a wide range of users through comprehensive packaging, documentation (in German and other languages), and YaST (Yet another Setup Tool).

Strategic Acquisition by Novell

Successfully steered SuSE through significant growth, leading to its acquisition by Novell in November 2003. This event marked a major milestone for SuSE and the open-source community, bolstering Linux's presence in the enterprise sector.

Champion of Open Source in Business

Played a key role in demonstrating the commercial viability and strategic importance of open-source software, particularly Linux, in the business world during a formative period for the open-source movement.

What's Robert Biggers's Educational Background?

Bachelor of Arts - BA, Philosophy

Guilford College - Year 1994

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Company Overview

Barnes & Noble College
Total employees6500
HeadquartersBasking Ridge, New Jersey
Founded1965

Barnes & Noble College (BNC) is a leading operator of college and university bookstores in the United States. It provides a wide array of academic solutions, including textbooks (new, used, rental, and digital), courseware, and supplies. BNC also offers a retail experience with university-branded apparel, gifts, and general merchandise. Their services aim to support student success and enhance campus life by creating dynamic retail and digital environments. In August 2023, Barnes & Noble College was acquired by Fanatics and Lids from Barnes & Noble Education.

Barnes & Noble College Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
not applicable - Most recent funding amount
not applicable - Number of funding rounds
not applicable - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Fanatics
Lids (majority-owned by Ames Watson, LLC)

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