PeopleSoft has lost another CEO with top dog David Duffield resigning before Oracle takes over the company.

PeopleSoft today announced Duffield's resignation in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The exec actually handed in his own walking papers on Dec. 21. Duffield was the leader of a PeopleSoft board that most reluctantly agreed to be taken over by Oracle for $10bn (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/13/oracle_buys_peoplesoft/).

Duffield took over the CEO post when Craig Conway was given the boot during some of the most heated times of the Oracle takeover attempt. Conway received a luxurious $18m exit package (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/19/conway_payoff_publicised/).

Duffield also held the title of Chairman at PeopleSoft and helped co-found the company back in 1987.

Oracle does not plan to have any of PeopleSoft's seven board members play a role at the new software giant. Oracle hopes to have its buyout done and dusted in January. ®

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