[January 29, 2009] Westell Technologies Names Richard Gilbert as CEO Tweet Jan 28, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Westell Technologies, a provider of broadband products, gateways and conferencing services, announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Richard S. Gilbert to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer. Gilbert will join the Company on February 23, and will immediately assume responsibility for the Company's day-to-day operations. He will also serve on the Board of Directors and will be based at the company's headquarters in Aurora, Illinois. "Rick's background eminently qualifies him to lead Westell during these challenging economic times, and we are very pleased to welcome him to the Company," said John W. Seazholtz, Chairman of the Board. "As a veteran of the network and communications industry, his track record of achieving goals and producing operational excellence will be a tremendous asset to the Company as we develop our plans." Gilbert most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Kineto Wireless, a provider in Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology as well as supporting products that are used to enable Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC). He was responsible for setting the company's strategic direction and overseeing its rapid growth as the key innovator and supplier of UMA technology, the third generation standard for fixed-mobile convergence. From 1998 to 2005, Gilbert was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Copper Mountain Networks, a provider of broadband access products to Incumbent and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs & CLECs), Independent Operating Companies (IOCs), Interexchange Carriers (IXCs), and other facilities-based network providers worldwide. Under Gilbert's leadership, Copper Mountain had a successful initial public offering in 1999. Prior to Copper Mountain, Gilbert was the President of ADC Kentrox, one of the fastest growing and most profitable divisions of ADC Telecommunications. Additionally, he has held numerous senior management positions with companies that include Make Systems, Vitalink Communications and IBM. In a release, the Board of Directors thanked Bernie Sergesketter, who has served as interim CEO since July 2008, for his leadership. He will remain with the Company until February 28, 2009. Going forward, Sergesketter has agreed to remain as a consultant to the Company for business development and advisory purposes. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]