8:30 AM -- The proposed combining of Bookham and Avanex is being called a "merger," partly because the companies are similar in size. But the terms make it clear Bookham is acquiring Avanex, at least on paper if not in spirit. (See Bookham, Avanex Tie the Knot.)

The executive layout of the combined company makes it even more clear Bookham would be in charge. Here's the team executives described in announcing the merger yesterday:

Table 1: Bookham/Avanex Proposed Executive Team

Person	Position	Originating Company
Bernard Couillard	Chairman	Bookham
Alain Couder	CEO	Bookham
Giovanni Barbarossa	Board member	Avanex
Jim Haynes	COO	Bookham
Jerry Turin	CFO	Bookham
Andy Carter	CTO	Bookham
Adrian Meldrum, Richard Smart	Heads of telecom product divisions	Bookham, Avanex
Yves LeMaitre	Head of industrial products and R&D	Bookham
Source: Bookham and Avanex

— Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading