Oracle Taps Ex-Microsoft Executive Maffei as CFO

Business software maker Oracle Corp. on Friday tapped former Microsoft Corp. executive Gregory B. Maffei to be its chief financial officer and one of three presidents.

While at Microsoft from 1993 to 2000, Maffei worked closely with co-founder Bill Gates and Chief Executive Steve Ballmer. At Oracle, Maffei will face yet another software titan in Chief Executive Larry Ellison, who has a reputation for having a strong ego and mercurial personality.

One of Maffei’s biggest challenges will probably be the continuing integration of PeopleSoft Inc., which Oracle acquired this year for $10.6 billion.

Oracle, which is based in Redwood City, Calif., has promised the deal will raise its annual profit by at least $400 million in the fiscal year ending May 2006.

Maffei, 45, joins Safra Catz and Charles Phillips in the role of president, and the company said he would be responsible for its legal department, human resources, manufacturing and distribution, and global real estate.