Epstein reported to Catz in his CFO role, in which he had responsibility for finance, the controller's office, finance operations tax, treasury, real estate, investor relations, audit, and customer leasing.

Before coming to Oracle, Epstein from April 2007 through June 2008 was EVP and CFO of Oberon Media Inc., a private Internet game technology concern and publisher. Before that he was EVP and CFO of ADVO Inc., a direct mail media company. Other previous jobs included being a senior vice president and CEO of VNU's Media Measurement and Information Group, with businesses that included Nielsen Media Research in 2002 and 2003.

After years of CFO stability under Jeff Henley, who took over in finance in March 1991, and moved from CFO to chairman in 2004, the Oracle post became a place for short-timers, with stories circulating that there were clashes with CEO Ellison. The two who served less than a year were Harry You, and ex Microsoft Corp. CFO Gregory Maffei. Maffei was replaced by Catz in late 2005.

Maffei, now CEO and president of Liberty Media since 2006, had served as finance chief from 1997 to 2000. He then became chairman and CEO of 360networks Corp., before becoming Oracle's co-president and CFO early in 2005.