Ariba prez to join Bush administration

Software maker Ariba announced on Wednesday that its presdient and director, David McCormick, has been nominated by President Bush to serve in the U.S. Department of Commerce as Under Secretary for Export Administration.

McCormick has begun to hand off his duties to Ariba boss Robert Calderoni and expects to resign when the U.S. Senate confirms his appointment.

McCormick was formerly the chief executive officer of Freemarkets, a software company that Ariba acquired last year for nearly half a billion dollars.

The West Point grad is returning to his roots with the move to public service. McCormick was a captain in the U.S. Army and holds a doctorate in public and international affairs from Princeton University.