Birck to Resign as Tellabs ChiefBirck to Resign as Tellabs Chief

Michael J. Birck, co-founder and chairman/CEO for the past 26 years, plans to step down as CEO of Tellabs by April 2004

November 5, 2003

1 Min Read

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Michael J. Birck, 65, who co-founded Tellabs in 1975 and has led the company as chairman and chief executive officer for 26 years, announced that he plans to step down as CEO by April 2004. He will continue in his role as chairman of the board.

The Tellabs board of directors has initiated a search for a chief executive officer, and will consider both internal and external candidates. Recruitment firm Spencer Stuart is assisting a special subcommittee of independent directors, led by director William F. Souders, in its search.

"We've put in place a strong management team, developed sound strategies for the future, and made tremendous progress along our path to profitable growth, so now is the right time for a new leader to begin the next chapter at Tellabs," Birck said.

Under Birck's leadership, Tellabs has grown from a 1975 start-up with six employees and $312,000 in revenues to a NASDAQ 100 company with 2002 revenues of $1.3 billion. Since the company's founding, he has served continuously as chairman of Tellabs and as CEO for all but 22 months. Among his many honors, Birck won the Electronic Industries Alliance's 2003 Medal of Honor and the 2001 Ernst Weber Engineering Leadership Recognition Award from the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). Birck also serves as a director of Molex Incorporated and Illinois Tool Works Inc., and on several nonprofit boards.

Tellabs Inc.

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