Capella Adds Execs

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Capella Photonics, Inc., the leader in intelligent subsystems for use in reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADM) and optical cross connect (OXC) applications, today announced the appointment of two new executives. Rich Yonker is now chief financial officer and Elizabeth (Beth) Perry is vice president of engineering. Both executives are based at company headquarters in San Jose, California.

The two executives joined Capella to drive swift and aggressive efforts in manufacturing and distribution of the company’s WavePath® portfolio of wavelength selective switches (WSS) with integrated optical channel monitoring. The WavePath® portfolio provides the enabling functionality for managing broadband traffic through the intersections of next-generation optical networks. According to Infonetics, a leading market research firm, the ROADM-enabled equipment market size nearly reached $600 million in 2005, tripling earlier forecasts.

“This is an exciting time in Capella’s expansion, and Rich and Beth are critical to our success,” said Larry Schwerin, chief executive officer of Capella. “Both bring extensive industry experience on a multinational level. As telecommunications networks and enterprises worldwide continue to migrate, utilizing integrated broadband IP/optical solutions, Beth and Rich’s leadership will help Capella further capitalize on this strategic and growing segment of the communications market.”

“Capella delivers the most sophisticated and intelligent WSS on the market,” said Dino Vendetti, General Partner at Bay Ventures. “Adding Rich and Beth to the executive team not only fortifies the company for meeting increasing market demand, but provides added confidence that the company will more than deliver on its business plan.”

Rich Yonker has over 35 years of business and financial experience in both public and private companies. Before joining Capella, he was chief financial officer for Avanex. Yonker has also served as chief financial officer for Actelis Networks, Agility Communications, MMC Networks, and Asyst Technologies. Rich has also held senior management positions at The ASK Group, Digital Equipment Corporation, Intel, and General Motors. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the General Motors Institute and an MS in Finance Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

With over 20 years of experience, Beth Perry brings to Capella a strong and diverse background in management, engineering, and marketing in the networking, enterprise, service provider, and defense industries. Beth joins Capella after serving on Capella’s Board of Directors for two years. Prior to Capella, she was a senior vice president with CIENA for five years. When she joined CIENA in 1999, she was responsible for the company’s newly-formed Core Switching Division, which grew from 50 people to over 500 in just 3 years. This division contributed $350M to CIENA’s revenue in 2001. Beth has also held senior management positions at Hitachi Telecom (USA) and Alcatel USA/Rockwell International. Beth holds BSEM/EE and MSEE degrees from Southern Methodist University.

Capella Photonics Inc.