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Arun Netravali joins Agere Systems
By siliconindia staff writer
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Monday, 26 July 2004, 19:30 IST
ALLENTOWN: Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A, AGR.B) today announced that noted scientist Arun Netravali will join its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
With Netravali's addition, Agere's board now numbers eight members, who bring in-depth knowledge of such areas as finance, communications networking, semiconductor fabrication and corporate governance best practices.
Netravali, a globally renowned technologist who served as Bell Labs president from 1999 to 2001, earned more than 70 patents during his 32-year career at AT&T and Lucent Technologies. In 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush awarded Netravali a National Medal of Technology for both his pioneering work in digital video and his technology leadership of Bell Labs. Netravali currently manages a $250 million venture capital fund under formation that will focus on U.S.-Indian technology companies.
"We're delighted to add a technologist and innovator of Arun's stature to our board," said John Dickson, president and CEO of Agere. "As a global semiconductor company focused on personal broadband, Agere will benefit greatly from Arun's deep understanding of broadband communications and his extensive business experience."
Netravali has contributed to three books and authored more than 200 papers in the areas of computer networks, human interfaces to machines, picture processing and digital television. In addition to the technology medal, he has won numerous awards, including the 2001 Padma Bhushan medal, one of the highest honors awarded to civilians by the President of India; the 2001 Jack Kilby Medal from the IEEE; the 1997 Computers & Communications Medal from the Foundation for C&C Promotion funded by NEC Corporation; the 1996 Thomas A. Edison Patent Award; a 1994 Emmy award for leadership of AT&T Microelectronics' efforts in the HDTV Grand Alliance standard; the 1992 Engineer of the Year Award from the Association of Engineers from India; and the 1991 Alexander Graham Bell Medal. Netravali is a fellow of the IEEE and AAAS and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.
Netravali currently serves on the board of Level 3 Communications Inc. and on the advisory board of Veridicom International Inc.
Netravali received a Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, India, in 1967, and Master's and Doctorate of Electrical Engineering degrees from Rice University in 1969 and 1970, respectively. He holds honorary doctorates from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale in Switzerland, Clarkson University, Osmania University and IIT, Mumbai, India.
Agere Systems is a global leader in semiconductors for storage, wireless data, and public and enterprise networks. The company's chips and software power a broad range of computing and communications applications, from cell phones, PCs, PDAs, hard disk drives and gaming devices to the world's most sophisticated wireless and wireline networks. Agere's customers include the top manufacturers of consumer electronics, communications and computing equipment. Agere's products connect people to information and entertainment at home, at work and on the road -- making personal broadband a reality.