Maple Names CFO, Expands

SAN JOSE, Calif., and LONDON -- Maple Optical Systems(TM), Inc. (www.mapleoptical.com), the San Jose-based developer of advanced network switching technology, today announced a key addition to its worldwide management team, with the appointment of James T. Wandrey as chief financial officer (CFO). With extensive experience in the networking and telecommunications sector, Jim Wandrey joins the company's senior management team, reporting directly to Bill Joll, Maple Optical Systems president and CEO. "The addition of a dedicated CFO will strengthen our already solid relationships with investors and customers, as well as providing the rigorous financial management that is required to build a world-class networking systems company," said Joll. "Maple continues to attract great people who share our goals of building a company for the long-haul." In a separate release:Maple Optical Systems(TM), Inc. (www.mapleoptical.com), the San Jose, California-based developer of advanced network switching technology, today announced that the company is expanding its European operations with the establishment of a software design facility in Nottingham, UK. The Nottingham team will develop software that enables European carriers to integrate Maple's first generation networking systems into their telecommunications infrastructure. Maple expects to deliver its first generation of products simultaneously to European and North American markets in the summer of 2002. Maple also announced the appointment of senior European business development executives, who are already interacting with customers across major markets. "The European market will be key to Maple's success, as telecommunications companies enhance their existing networks and deliver new services to businesses and consumers," said Bill Joll, president and CEO of Maple Optical Systems. "Our business development team is well connected with telecommunications leaders across Europe and the establishment of a design center in UK demonstrates that our European customers can look forward to Maple integrating European-specific features into our product lines."In a further commitment to Europe, Maple has appointed Roger Philby and Matthias Prohl as European directors of business development. Roger Philby was previously a senior manager within Nortel Networks Next Generation Carrier Services group and Matthias Prohl, comes to Maple after leadership sales and management assignments at Alcatel, Xylan and Cisco Systems. Maple Optical Systems