Oracle Development Head Kurian Temporarily Stepping Away From The Job

Thomas Kurian, the high-level Oracle executive who oversees the company's software development operations, is taking some time away from the company for an unspecified period of time, according to a CNBC report.

The report gave no specific reason for Kurian's temporary leave. "He's taking some time off. We expect him to return soon," an Oracle spokesperson told CNBC in an email.

Kurian, who holds the title of president, product development, oversees Oracle's software development operations with some 35,000 engineers – nearly one quarter of the company's workforce – reporting to him. Kurian reports to Larry Ellison, Oracle CTO and executive chairman.

Kurian has been with Oracle since 1996, according to his official biography, and has played a critical role in the development of Oracle's current generation of software products, including its Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service offerings, and in its move to cloud computing.

Cloud services and license support revenue accounted for 66 percent of Oracle's $39.83 billion revenue for its fiscal 2018 (ended May 31).

He was initially responsible for overseeing the development of Oracle's highly successful Fusion Middleware product line and in 2008 was put in charge of the development of Oracle's Fusion business applications. He was named president of product development in 2015.

Before joining Oracle, Kurian worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. He has a BA in electrical engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Kurian's twin brother, George Kurian, is CEO of storage system and services developer NetApp.