Never shy about labeling its competitors as stone age or pre-Internet, NetSuite has taken the battle to its advertising. The San Mateo, Calif.-based cloud software vendor is trashing SAP, one of its favorite targets, in an ad in the Wall Street Journal. The full-page promotion features a faux text conversation about an SAP implementation on the screen of a mobile device. Here’s the conversation: “Why is it taking so long to get our ERP up and running?” “It’s SAP. What can I do?” “You’re tired.”

SAP has named a new general manager for its much-maligned Business ByDesign. And the company says cloud product sales will rely more on channel distribution than previously. This is the most information we have heard about the latest reincarnation of ByD in several months. New GM and SVP Michael Schmitt said in a video he will bring together all teams that are relevant to ByD. Schmitt also posted comments in an SAP blog.

A press release that Tami Reller, Microsoft EVP and Great Plains Alum, has joined the board of directors of Avalara contained another nugget. It says that Reller is EVP and chief marketing officer at Optum, a health data and technology company, which is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. A quick check of the Optum site shows no picture of Reller, yet, among the pictures of other EVPs and no announcement.

Pronto Software, an Australian company that makes manufacturing software, has named Chad Gates as COO. Gates joined Pronto in 2005 as product manager for retail in 2005. Since then, he has since held positions that include research and development manager and general manager in the company’s Victoria office. Pronto also promoted Gary Stemple to the job of development manager after serving as operations manager of core research and development.