Exclusive A pair of Sun's top Solaris executives have scurried right on out of the company, The Register can reveal.

Solaris VP Tom Goguen will leave the company for "personal and family reasons," and Sun's director of Solaris marketing Chris Ratcliffe has also departed for "family reasons." Those damn families sure do take a toll on the executive lifestyle.

"Tom is committed to leading the Solaris team through early March as we finalize the search to identify his successor," Sun said. "While it is always sad to see an employee of Tom's caliber depart, we wish him well as he begins a new chapter in his life."

Sun offered no substantial comment on Ratcliffe, who spent nine years hawking Solaris for the company.

Prior to Sun, Goguen led Apple's product marketing. He's from New Brunswick and, wouldn't you know it, an avid hockey player.

We banged on the ground over at Sun, but the Solaris moles refused to come out of their holes. What gives with these very senior level departures? Is there a Solaris x86 start-up in the works? ®

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