Sweden's Transmode Systems AB has appointed Isaac Olasoko as CEO. Previously, Olasoko was VP, Business Development & Marketing with Alcatel Europe and a member of Alcatel's Global Marketing Board and 3G Steering Board.
To fully exploit existing network protocols Transmode has been shipping CWDM systems since March 2001 and launched OADMs in August and the first True Logical Ring products in November. "In an environment where carriers are very selective about what they buy, you have to offer them a solution that either reduces operating costs or generates new revenue streams," says Olasoko.
Higgins joined Racal as Business Development Manager in April 2000 and helped to increase its presence within the optoelectronics and semiconductor markets with the launch of the laser-diode test system design and the introduction of the ButterflyNet test fixture.
Previously Higgins served for five years as Director of International Sales and Marketing for Terra Universal following 10 years at Newport Corp.
The 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance has chosen Richard C Brand, Nortel Networks' director, network architecture and applications, as its president.
The alliance is focused on accelerating the implementation and utilisation of IEEE 802.3ae draft standard 10 Gigabit Ethernet technologies. Nortel is also an active member of the IEEE 802.3ae 10Gbit/s Ethernet Task Force.
Paul Bottorff, Nortel Networks' director, switching architecture, has been named as a member of the board of directors and VP, co-chair of the technical committee of the Metro Ethernet Forum, which is dedicated to speeding the adoption of Optical Ethernet in metro networks.
The Resilient Packet Ring Alliance (RPR-A) has selected John Hawkins, Nortel Networks' Optical Ethernet senior product marketing manager, as its chairman of the board. Hawkins will also continue as treasurer.
The RPR-A's principle mandates are to serve as an industry advocacy group for RPR technology and to support the activities of the IEEE 802.17 working group, the RPR standards body. Recently, the working group approved a draft of the RPR standard that will enable high-bandwidth delivery, efficient bandwidth sharing between customers, cost-effective data networking and rapid service deployment. A final standard is expected in 2003.
Marconi plc has appointed Giorgio Bertolina as Marconi Communications SpA's executive chairman in Italy, replacing chairman professor Victor Uckmar. He reports to Geoff Doy, Marconi's CEO for sales and marketing.
Bertolina joined from Olivetti Group in 1998 as general director, Finance and Control, led the Integration Project after the merger of Marconi SpA and GPT, became deputy managing director of the Defence Division and was executive VP of finance for Marconi's sales and marketing.
He is responsible for all inter-divisional activities and senior relationships with external stakeholders in Italy, such as Government, public institutions, the media and trade unions.
Tunable Photonics Corp has appointed George Balogh as CEO, succeeding co-founder Carl Kukkonen, who remains chairman.
He joins after 13 years of manufacturing, finance and engineering management at Spectra-Physics, where he was senior VP founder of the Passive Telecom Group and responsible for developing and executing the optical component and thin film product strategies.
"Tunable Photonics will benefit greatly from George Balogh's invaluable experience and skills in managing highly technical businesses and turning technology into customer-focused products," said Kukkonen.
Tunable Photonics launched its new wavelength locker products in March at Optical Fiber Communications 2002.