AUSTIN, Texas -- Tom Cox, a founding member of the RapidIO(R) Trade Association who served as the initial Marketing Working Group Chairman, rejoins the association as its new executive director. Mr. Cox earned a reputation in the industry as an interconnect expert, both from a technical and market perspective based on his knowledge of systems, applications, and chips, as well as his vast experience in both industry associations and market-leading corporations.

"The RapidIO Trade Association is pleased to welcome Tom back to our organization as executive director. His experience in the communications, embedded systems, storage, enterprise, military, and PC markets signals strong leadership for the association and support for the RapidIO ecosystem," said Dave Wickliff, chairman of the RapidIO Trade Association Steering Committee. "We believe Tom will deliver a clear direction for the future of RapidIO technology as it continues to permeate the market as the embedded fabric of choice."

Mr. Cox brings more than 26 years of experience in engineering, marketing and strategy, with a heavy emphasis on interconnects and standards, to the RapidIO Trade Association. Most recently he was with Tundra Semiconductor as director of strategy where he worked to ensure the company's strategic vision was achieved through interaction with partners and strategic customers, participation in SIGs and trade associations, and through market research.

"Having worked with Tom Cox on numerous bus architecture and research reports, it is clear that he has a thorough understanding of the technology and is consistently on target with the direction the RapidIO Trade Association and the market was taking," said Ernie Bergstrom, principal analyst, Crystal Cube Consulting. "His return as executive director is a positive step for the RapidIO Trade Association, and we look forward to working with him in the coming months."

RapidIO Trade Association (RIO)