Matthew Powell to Lead Vernier Networks as President and CEO
Veteran Entrepreneur Joins Vernier Management to Drive WLAN Strategy and Expand Vernier Market Share
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., January 14, 2003— Vernier Networks, a developer of innovative systems and software to protect, manage, and enhance wireless networks, today introduced Matthew Powell as its new president and chief executive officer (CEO). With a leadership record of successful company-building, global high-growth sales, and customer care, Powell joins Vernier as the market for secure, scalable Wireless LAN (WLAN) solutions is poised for substantial growth. Former CEO Doug Klein will become Vernier’s chief technical officer (CTO), focusing his attention on WLAN industry issues, strategic partnerships, and maintaining Vernier’s technology leadership.
“Within the last two years, Vernier has evolved from its Packet Design roots into a mature, well-funded company with award-winning products solving critical customer needs,” said Klein. “Matthew’s extensive corporate, sales, and marketing experience and his customer-centric approach will now help us to extend our current momentum to new levels of success.”
Powell comes to Vernier after serving as interim CEO of Siliquent Technologies, an early stage storage silicon company. Prior to Siliquent, Powell was an Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) at both Greylock and Benchmark Capital.
“Wireless LANs represent a disruptive technology with vast market potential,” said Powell. “I was attracted to Vernier because it possesses key ingredients for success: a fast-growing base of customers in a large new global market, a solid management team with deep industry expertise, strong funding and investors, and proven, innovative products. I look forward to working with Vernier’s team, customers, and partners to extend our leadership position in standards-based WLAN solutions and to broaden the market for WLAN innovation.”
Over the last 20 years, Powell has worked closely with telecommunications and wireless customers throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia/Pacific, and Latin America. From 1997 to 2001, Powell served as executive vice president and senior vice president of worldwide sales & customer advocacy at Netro Corporation, where he managed OEM relationships with Lucent, Nokia, Motorola, Siemens, and Cisco. At Netro, Powell scaled revenues from $0 to $68.5 million in two years, leading the company to be cited by Forbes magazine as a “Ramp Champ” for Top 20 revenue growth in 2000. Previously, Powell served as director of product management for Cisco’s WAN Business Unit, which generated more than $600 million in revenue under his tenure. Powell came to Cisco through its $4.8 billion acquisition of StrataCom in 1997, where he spent nine years in senior sales management roles.
Powell began his career in sales and marketing roles at Nortel and Xerox. He received his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his BA from Tulane University.
About Vernier Networks
Founded in March 2001, Vernier Networks develops innovative systems and software to protect, manage, and enhance wireless networks. Vernier’s user-aware, intelligent networking technology allows network managers to centralize wireless LAN usage policies, secure wireless network access at the edge, and deploy scalable wireless mobility across the enterprise. The Vernier Networks System won the Best of Show award at NetWorld+Interop Atlanta in October 2001, and the COMNET New Product Achievement Award for Wireless/Mobile in January 2002. A privately held company, Vernier Networks is the first spinout company of Packet Design, a technology development company founded by entrepreneurs Judy Estrin and Bill Carrico. For more information, visit the Vernier Networks Web site at: www.verniernetworks.com.