October 24, 2013 - Donald H. Brown, CIMdata Executive Consultant and founder of Collaborative Product Development Associates (CPDA) died 23 October 2013 following a prolonged illness.  Peter Bilello, President of CIMdata, today issued the following statement: “CIMdata is saddened that Don Brown, a pioneer in the computer systems IT and the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) industry has died. Don was a valuable colleague and friend whose industry insights, innovative thinking, and wisdom will be sorely missed.”

During his career Don had developed and managed over a dozen collaborative research programs and advisory services targeting the leading edge for the implementation and development of distributed technology, and had produced many incisive and in-depth studies. He had advised senior executives, developers, implementers, and investors from large companies and start-ups. Don's clients ranged from the automotive and aerospace sectors to the leading computer systems companies, as well as applications solution providers in design and engineering.

In May 2011, CPDA was acquired by CIMdata, Inc. Don founded CPDA with the members of D.H. Brown Associates’ (DHBA’s) PLM group in 2004, upon the sale of DHBA’s IT group. Don established DHBA in 1986 as a research firm serving institutional investors, suppliers, and users of advanced technology. He previously founded Gartner Group’s Small Systems Service. In the 1970’s, Don was recognized as one of the top three institutional financial analysts covering distributed processing and minicomputers. Don held an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Chicago. 

Dr. Ken Versprille, Executive Consultant at CIMdata, stated, “I worked with Don for more than 16 years beginning in the DHBA years. He was a business partner, a mentor, and a friend. He was highly regarded by those that knew him and well respected by all within the global IT and PLM community. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, his colleagues, many business associates, and by the PLM industry at large.”

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