Perceptive Software founder Scott Coons says he will retire

Scott Coons, who over the past 20 years transformed Perceptive Software from a small startup to an industry leader in specialized business software, will retire at the end of July.

The retirement announcement Thursday coincided with the completion of a nearly $1 billion acquisition of Kofax Ltd., which will nearly double the size of the Lenexa-based company, now called Lexmark Enterprise Software. The software operation, which has about 750 area employees, is a division of Lexmark International Inc.

Coons, 48, founded Perceptive in 1995. He is being succeeded as president of Lexmark Enterprise Software by Reynolds Bish, chief executive of Kofax, based in Irvine, Calif. The move takes effect immediately, Lexmark said.

Bish has been involved in enterprise software for more than 20 years and had led Kofax since 2007. The announcement said Coons will assist in the leadership transition until his retirement date.

“It’s been a great 20 years,” Coons said in an interview, adding that he and Lexmark chairman and chief executive Paul Rooke “are very comfortable” with the succession.

While Bish will remain based in Irvine, Coons said the software firm has long been a “highly decentralized operation.”

Coons, who lives in Lawrence, said he plans to spend more time with his family, but he didn’t hint at any future career options.

Rooke said: “Scott’s career in enterprise software has been truly extraordinary. He successfully led Perceptive Software from a small startup to one of Kansas City’s hottest companies and one of the industry’s leading enterprise content software providers.”

Rooke also credited Coons for expanding the company’s international presence.

Lexmark, based in Lexington, Ky., acquired Perceptive in 2010 and has expanded its software operations through follow-up acquisitions. With the acquisition of Kofax, Lexmark’s software segment has about $700 million in revenue.

Lexmark Enterprise Software products have been used in many industries, but the company has focused on health care and financial processes.

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 10:51 AM with the headline "Perceptive Software founder Scott Coons says he will retire."