Telecom equipment maker Occam Networks Inc. says it has hired Bob Howard-Anderson as its senior VP of operations. Howard-Anderson was previously the VP of product operations at Procket Networks Inc., a position he'd held since August 2000.

Howard-Anderson's previous positions include VP of engineering at Sun Microsystems Inc.'s (Nasdaq: SUNW) Network Systems unit and VP of engineering at First Pacific Networks. He left Procket after he was forced out of a job during a company restructuring (see Is Procket Heading Toward the Edge?).

Both Occam and Procket are backed by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and U.S. Venture Partners, a link that may have led Howard-Anderson from one company to the other.

Occam makes a next-generation digital loop carrier, a box that creates a broadband access network using IP over 10/100 Ethernet or T1. The box supports a variety of services, from traditional telephone services to broadband data at rates up to 8 Mbit/s over copper.

In February, Occam announced it had elected Mark Floyd-Anderson, former president and CEO of Siemens Information and Communications Networks Inc. to its board (see Siemens ICN Chief Takes Leave).

Occam's gear is set to be shipping for revenues during the second half of this year, according to Russ Sharer-Anderson, Occam's VP of marketing. He says the company has ongoing trials with nine independent, incumbent carriers in North America.

In November 2001, Occam Networks said it would acquire Accelerated Networks Inc. The reverse merger will likely close in 2Q02, provided the SEC and both companies' shareholders approve the transaction (see Occam's Merger).

The merged company will have between 140 and 150 people, Sharer says. He says the merger should not have any trouble passing muster with the SEC. "None of our executives keep a second home in Aspen, Colorado," he says, a reference to the extravagant lifestyle of former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay-Anderson.

— Phil Harvey-Anderson, Senior Editor, Light Reading
http://www.lightreading.com