New Top 10 List Launched

NEW YORK -- Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com), the premiere information resource for the optical networking industry, today announced its latest list of the Top Ten Movers and Shakers in the optical networking industry. The list, which is compiled by the editors of Light Reading, ranks figures in the optical networking industry based on their performance in the preceding months. The list reflects the amount of power and influence individuals command and takes into consideration whether their direction has had a positive effect on the companies they work for and on their own careers. Those eligible for the list include executives from system vendors, components manufacturers, and service providers, as well as venture capitalists, market analysts, and entrepreneurs. Those industry players whose influence has faded are placed in the "Has-Been Bin." "Our movers and shakers' determination has been sorely tested by some tough times since we last updated the list in August of last year," said Stephen Saunders, a founding editor of Light Reading. "A couple of them have thrived under the pressure, moving up the list as a result, but some of our picks from the previous list crumpled like a cheap suit." Light Reading's new Top 10 list reflects the significant shift in power that has occurred within the industry recently, with the inclusion of five new names, as well as a new No.1 Mover and Shaker: Carl Russo, Group Vice President for Optical Networking at Cisco Systems. The latest list of Movers and Shakers comprises: -- Carl Russo, group vice president, optical networking, Cisco Systems
-- Pat Nettles, executive chairman, Ciena Corp.
-- Greg Mumford, president, optical networks, Nortel Networks Corp.
-- James Wei, partner, Worldwide Partners
-- Paul Ferri, Matrix Partners; and Ed Anderson, North Bridge Venture Partners
-- David Huber, president and CEO, Corvis Corp.
-- Kevin Kalkhoven, Investor
-- Milton Chang, founder and chairman, New Focus Inc.
-- Dan Smith, president and CEO, Sycamore Inc.
-- Wu-Fu Chen, Incubator Three players from the previous list dropped in rank, and four others were removed and placed in Light Reading's "Has-Been Bin." One of the biggest upsets of the new rankings is venture capitalist Vinod Khosla - a former No. 1 Mover and Shaker, who was demoted to the "Has-Been Bin." "We started to have second thoughts about Vinod when he appeared on the cover of both Forbes and Red Herring in one month," comments Saunders. "Shortly afterwards, BBO, one of Vinod's investments, filed for Chapter 11. Others, like Zaffire, are looking a bit wobbly, too. Now he's gone on sabbatical." Since launching the inaugural issue of the Top Ten Movers and Shakers, in February 2000, Light Reading has acquired a reputation for forecasting fame and misfortune for individuals on the list, well ahead of the curve. For instance, in the last ranking, it predicted that Richard McGinn, then CEO of Lucent, would be fired. Two months later, he was. Light Reading's new Top 10 list can be found at http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?site=lightreading&doc_id=5414