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Gluon appoints Shirish Patel CEO
By siliconindia
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Friday, 07 February 2003, 20:30 IST
PETALUMA: Gluon Networks Inc., Friday announced the appointment of Shirish Patel as president and chief executive officer. Patel replaces Jo Anne Miller, whoo stepped down an president and chief executive.
Miller's decision to step aside comes at a time when Gluon has completed its product development and is transitioning the central focus to commercial sale of the CLX.
"Shirish is a top notch telecom CEO, who has managed other successful companies in the USVP portfolio," said Steve Krausz, General Partner of US Venture Partners. "Shirish will provide the team with direction and leadership as the company makes the transition to commercial product."
"I came to Gluon to raise money, move the product from prototype to production, and initiate customer trials - all of which we accomplished," said Jo Anne Miller.
"I am very proud that I've guided the company to a point where revenue is now the central issue, and together with the Board we feel it is the appropriate time to pass the torch to someone that has a market focus." Under Jo Anne's leadership Gluon has raised over $62 million in venture financing, completed development of the Converged Local Exchange, and has commenced trials with five rural local exchange providers, including its RUS field trial.
"I can't express how pleased I am with Jo Anne's success at bringing the product to fruition." says Tom McConnell, General Partner of New Enterprise Associates. "Jo Anne has helped raise over $62mln in financing for Gluon, in addition to leading the development effort to complete the CLX. However, as Jo Anne recognized with the completion of the product, the need for a market focused CEO was critical and the Board supported her in this decision."
"I'm very excited to become a part of Gluon at this critical juncture. Gluon has a unique product and opportunity to succeed in a very difficult space," said Shirish Patel. "Unlike many other telecom startups which have since failed, the demand for Gluon's product is only increasing. Demonstrating the product in the marketplace and execution of our sales strategy are now our key focus." Patel is a 20-year veteran of telecom startups in Silicon Valley; most recently he was the former Founder and CEO of Rapid5 Networks, based in San Jose, CA.