2005-10-24
Birdstep names new CEO
Birdstep Technology ASA has successfully completed the restructuring process after the acquisition of Alice Systems. The company is now ready to enter a new phase with focus on commercialization of the new generation connectivity and mobility client software. Effective from November 1st 2005, Petri Markkanen is appointed CEO and will lead Birdstep into this new phase.
Mr. Markkanen has a solid background from international business development, leadership and networking in global technology organisations such as Ericsson, Tellabs International and LGP Allgon. Mr. Markkanen has worked with international sales and marketing in the telecom and IT industry for the last 20 years; experience that he now brings into Birdstep to successfully achieve this new commercialization phase.
“Birdstep is now positioned to benefit from the product evolution based on the merger of two complementary technologies. I see this as a natural stage to leave the rains to Petri Markkanen as the new CEO. His extensive experience from sales and marketing at senior level to wireless operators will be a valuable asset in fulfilling future goals”, says Jørgen Bredesen.
“Petri has the right skills to take Birdstep to the next level. His long experience from Ericsson has given him the background needed to take Birdstep into this new phase. With Jørgen continuing as an advisor to the Board of Directors through 2006, we make sure to be able to keep the momentum going,” says Per Arne Sandstrøm, Chairman of the Board.
“I am delighted to be given this opportunity to lead such well positioned technology company and look forward to work with a very competent team. Birdstep has recently announced an agreement with Nokia for the distribution of the mobility client on the new multi radio Smartphones. Such agreement has opened multiple new opportunities for commercialization of the client solution and has brought attention of various players in this market. We will now canalize our efforts to make sure that we are well positioned to profit of such momentum”, says Petri Markkanen.
About Birdstep Technology
Birdstep Technology ASA is a public company listed in the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE) under ticker 'BIRD' with head quarters in Oslo, Norway in addition to offices in the USA in Seattle, as well as offices in Stockholm, Frankfurt, Cambridge (UK) and Shanghai. Birdstep Technology ASA's two wholly owned subsidiaries, Birdstep Technology, Inc. and Birdstep Technology Ltd., are organized under the laws of Delaware, USA, and the United Kingdom, respectively. In December 2004 Birdstep acquired 100% of the shares in Alice Systems. The purpose of the acquisition was to complement both companies' offerings to be able to deliver best-in-class client-based solutions that enable operators to improve their customer experience as they move between available networks, e.g. fixed, cellular and wireless connections. The company today employs around 70 people dedicated to development of advanced seamless mobility solutions and small footprint, high performance database technologies. Birdstep has the intellectual property rights to software developed, and inventions made, by its employees. Birdstep's global customers and partners include Cisco, 3Com, Alcatel, Ericsson, Nokia, Nortel Networks, HP, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, PCTel, and 32 network operators worldwide including T-Mobile Group, Vodafone Group and Telenor. For more information, visit www.birdstep.com.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Per Arne Sandstrøm
Chairman of the Board
Birdstep Technology ASA
Jørgen Bredesen
CEO
Birdstep Technology ASA