David Stehlin new CEO of MRV

Optical transport systems and services vendor MRV Communications, Inc. (OTCQB: MRVC) has named David Stehlin to replace the recently retired Barry Gorsun as CEO of the company. Gorsun resigned effective January 31, but will stay on as a consultant for six months.

Stehlin steps up to CEO from his previous role as president of MRV's Optical Communication Systems (OCS) division. He has extensive experience in senior management roles in communications systems companies. Prior to joining MRV in 2011 as senior vice president of sales for OCS (he became president of the division in February 2012), Stehlin was president of Overture Networks, Inc., president and CEO of Ceterus Networks, Inc. before it merged into Overture Networks, and president and CEO of startup Valo, Inc. From 1999 to 2001, he was the president and CEO of OnePath Networks, Inc.

"David Stehlin is a telecommunications industry veteran with over 20 years of experience and we are confident that he is the right leader to take MRV to the next level,” said Kenneth Traub, Chairman of MRV's Board of Directors. “Over the past nearly two years while at MRV, Dave has been instrumental in helping develop MRV's strategic direction, leading MRV's OCS division and securing major new customers. Dave has the Board's full support as we move forward on our plan to strengthen and grow MRV, while building value for our stockholders."

Gorsun, who became CEO in February 2012, leaves the company after shepherding it through a recent refocusing of assets (see “MRV to divest network integration business, focus on optical communications”). "The Board of Directors would like to thank Barry for his exemplary leadership of MRV," said Traub. "Under Barry's leadership, we renewed the company's commitment to building MRV's core OCS business, resolved long-standing contingent liabilities, sold three non-core subsidiaries in Europe, and returned a substantial amount of capital to stockholders. We wish Barry well in his future endeavors and appreciate his continued service to MRV during this transition."

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