Business Objects Promotes John Powell to Senior Group Vice President, Worldwide Operations.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1999--Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ), the world's leading provider of integrated enterprise decision support tools, today announced the promotion of John Powell to the position of senior group vice president, worldwide operations.

Powell founded Business Objects UK in 1991, and built the organization into one of the most successful countries for the company worldwide. In 1998 he was promoted to run the Atlantic division in Europe, the largest region in the entire organization. During his tenure, Powell significantly grew his operation, pioneered a new sales model, and implemented many new business practices.

In his new role, Powell runs worldwide operations, which is restructured into three divisions:

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--   North America, including the United States and Canada. The
     company has promoted Jon Temple to senior vice president, North
     American operations to run this region. Temple formerly was vice
     president of sales of the Americas region and joined Business
     Objects in 1992.

--   Europe, which merges the former Atlantic and Continental
     divisions. The company has promoted Eric Faurisson to senior vice
     president, European operations, to run this region. Faurisson ran
     the Continental division of Europe, one of the most successful
     and fastest-growing regions in the company. He joined Business
     Objects in 1992.

--   International Distribution, comprised of Asia-Pacific, Latin
     America, and the emerging markets of Eastern Europe and the
     Middle East. Ricardo Fuchs has been promoted to senior vice
     president, International Distribution, to run this region. Fuchs
     has run the Asia-Pacific division of Business Objects since 1993.

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In addition to running the three sales operations, Powell oversees global customer support, professional services, strategic alliances, and extranet business development.

Charles Chang, formerly general manager of Business Objects Americas, has taken a new role as senior vice president of business development.

All of the changes discussed in this announcement are effective immediately.

"John Powell is a tremendous asset to Business Objects, and I enthusiastically welcome him to his new role as senior group vice president of worldwide operations," said Bernard Liautaud, president and CEO of Business Objects. "He has been a key executive in our highly successful European organization for more than seven years, and has more than 17 years of experience in the information technology industry. He has deep experience in operational management and extensive knowledge of our business and market."

"In addition, I am very confident in the executive team and new structure. Together, they have more than 55 years of experience in information technology sales and management, and have more than 24 years combined experience at Business Objects. Our momentum in the business intelligence market is very strong, and with our new team in place we are even better positioned to seize additional opportunities and take the company to the next level."

About Business Objects

Business Objects is the world's leading provider of integrated enterprise decision support tools. Business Objects products provide non-technical business users with access to information stored in data warehouses, data marts, and packaged business applications. Business Objects provides a complete suite of decision support tools including query, reporting, online analytical processing, data mining, and DSS administration for both client/server and internet environments. Business Objects has sold more than 1,080,000 licenses to over 7,600 organizations in more than 60 countries worldwide.

Business Objects may be reached by phone at 408/953-6000 or on the worldwide web at http://www.businessobjects.com. The Company's stock is publicly traded under the ticker symbol BOBJ.

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable law, including statements regarding the company's ability to improve its operating performance, the newly promoted managers' abilities to contribute to such endeavors, and the new business opportunities available to the company. Actual results could differ materially from those projected if, among other reasons, the organization does not adjust well to the new management structure, or if any of the newly promoted or other senior personnel were to leave the company. In addition, the company's success in pursuing new business opportunities will depend upon continued and expanding market acceptance of the company's products, of which there can be no assurance, and upon competitive product offerings by others.

Note to Editors: BusinessObjects and WebIntelligence are trademarks of Business Objects SA. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.