Three former Oracle Ireland executives, who left the company together to join online software firm Salesforce.com, have become non-executive directors of Dublin start-up Clarendon Technology Group.

Through their new directorships, the three - former Oracle Ireland managing director Mr John Appleby; chief technology officer Mr Fergus Gloster; and Mr David Dempsey - will retain indirect ties to their former employer, since Clarendon, an Oracle partner, develops Web-based applications using Oracle database software.

"I like the degree of focus that Clarendon has got," said Mr Appleby, who is now senior vice-president and managing director of Salesforce.com's European, Middle East and Africa division. "The company is built on exclusivity of relationships."

Clarendon was established in November 1999 by managing director Mr Noel Coburn, who worked previously with Lotus Ireland, and Mr Kevin Dempsey (no relation to Mr David Dempsey), who worked at Oracle.

"A database is very much the heart of Web-based applications," said Mr Coburn. "We're in the market to make Oracle software sing and dance the way clients want." The company's customers include Prize buy.com, Bank of Ireland Asset Management and Commerzbank. He said Clarendon also just won a large Government contract.

Clarendon employs 10 full-time and four contract software engineers, and Mr Coburn hopes to add another dozen full-time positions in the next six months. The company - which he said had a small profit in its first year with turnover of £1.5 million (€1.9 million) - is privately funded. Although it is entering a growth phase, Mr Coburn says Clarendon will remain private.

"The fact is, we haven't even looked at first round funding," he said.