Mark Shuttleworth, the South African-born entrepreneur who founded Linux distribution provider Canonical, will be stepping down from his post as company CEO, Canonical announced. Jane Silber, currently the chief operating officer and director of online services for the company, will take the role of CEO by March 1.

Shuttleworth said the shift in duties came about to address the commercial demands the company faces.

"We're growing into markets which demand a level of rigor and operational discipline that Jane has brought to the various pieces [of the company] she has led in the past," Shuttleworth said. "Between her and I, we've always brought two different styles to the leadership. But I think it's appropriate for Canonical to have more commercial focus at the top over the next five years."

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