MAIDENHEAD, U.K., August 12, 1999 – Newbridge Networks (NYSE: NN; TSE: NNC), today announced the appointment of Eddie Minshull as Vice President Alliances and Channels, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMA.) This high calibre appointment marks another important milestone for Newbridge in strengthening its world class management team.

“We are delighted to welcome Eddie to the Newbridge EMA management team. He brings a wealth of channel experience to the company. Eddie will be instrumental in developing the company’s channels and alliance strategy and will have overall responsibility in ensuring that the strategy is successfully implemented,” said Pearse Flynn, Executive Vice President and General Manager for EMA, Newbridge Networks.

Prior to joining Newbridge, Mr. Minshull held a number of senior positions with Compaq Computer Corporation – both at a European and world-wide level. During the last year he was responsible for the design, development and implementation of the Compaq Services Network (CSN) – a web-based network which brings in excess of 10,000 partners into one virtual service organisation.

Immediately prior to this, he was Compaq’s Field Services Director, EMA, responsible for managing
the Channel Partner Network across Europe.

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Lutz was brought in to turn the company around, but resigned after Newbridge issued its sixth profit warning in 10 quarters, fuelling fresh takeover speculation. Flynn said he will fight to maintain independence and has promised to “dramatically refocus” Newbridge.

“I have to fix the sales organisation and our product portfolio – we have to shrink that,” Flynn said. He would not specify which products will be phased out.

Newbridge will announce its strategy on 16 November. Flynn said he will reduce costs by moving to outsourced manufacturing. He also pointed to Newbridge’s success in Europe, where turnover has risen 40 per cent in the past quarter, achieved by selling “bundled solutions” instead of concentrating on “boxes and technology”.

Newbridge’s ATM products for service providers are widely admired, but analysts have criticised the firm’s failure to develop optical networking technologies and move into IP. Flynn said analysts have been “brainwashed” and said Newbridge’s ATM switches are compatible with IP.

Craig Johnson, analyst at the Pita Group, said Newbridge made a big mistake when it sold its stake in optical manufacturer Cambrian Systems to Nortel.

Cisco recently spent billions to acquire such technology from Cerent.

The market has priced optical startups, such as Sycamore Networks, far beyond Newbridge’s reach.
Read more:  http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/1887968/flynn-pledges-reshape-newbridge