BOSTON and MONTREAL -- VIPswitch, a developer of a new class of application aware Terabit switch/routers for Metropolitan and IP Service Providers, today announced the appointment of Mr. Don Gibbs as President and CEO.

Mr. Gibbs brings more than 30 years of management experience to VIPswitch. Most recently, he was President & CEO of Positron Fiber Systems, a start-up organization that specialized in SONET add/Drop multiplexers for the fiber optic access market. During his tenure at Positron, Mr. Gibbs took the company public with an extremely successful IPO. In 1998, he expertly negotiated the sale of Positron to Reltec Corporation for $200 million US. Subsequently Reltec was purchased by Marconi PLC. Prior to Positron Fiber Systems, Mr. Gibbs held multiple senior management positions at companies such as: Cognos and Mitel.

“I am extremely pleased that Don has decided to join VIPswitch and propel the company to the next level,” said Luc Beaubien, VIPswitch’s former President & CEO. “Don is the right person to guide VIPswitch through an IPO or an eventual buy-out and he has a proven track record of increasing shareholder value.” In order to ensure that there is a smooth transition, Mr. Beaubien will remain with VIPswitch until the end of June 2001.

VIPswitch Inc.