Leading Oracle Corp. executive Thomas Kurian caused a stir late Thursday when it was announced that he’s taking “extended time off” from the database software company.

Kurian is said to be one of the most powerful executives at the company, charged with leading its efforts to expand its cloud computing business. Kurian is also regarded as the main technical leader at Oracle after its Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison. Such is his seniority that he does not report to Oracle’s co-Chief Executives Safra Catz and Mark Hurd, but to Ellison himself.

It’s not clear why Kurian is taking time off, or when he plans to return.

“He’s taking some time off. We expect him to return soon,” a spokeswoman for Oracle told CNBC, which broke the story.

CNBC also obtained an email sent by Kurian to Oracle employees, in which he states he’s taking “extended time off from Oracle” and thanks them for their work in helping the company transition to the cloud.

“I am so very proud of all that we have accomplished together and so grateful for having had the opportunity to help you on that journey,” Kurian wrote in the email. CNBC reported that Kurian included his personal contact information at the end.

Kurian has served at Oracle for 22 years after joining the company in 1996. During his latter years, he has been heading up Oracle’s software development efforts as it bids to build up its cloud computing operations. He has held his current position as president of product development since 2015, overseeing the creation of its Fusion middleware and business applications that have played a prominent role in the company’s transition to the cloud.

Kurian announced earlier this year a suite of new automation products that he said were Oracle’s “biggest transition” since the Fusion products first launched three years ago.

Kurian’s twin brother George is also a prominent Silicon Valley executive, currently serving as the president and CEO of data center infrastructure company NetApp Inc.

Photo: Robert Hof/SiliconANGLE