Technology >> CEO Interviews >> August 30, 2004
CHARLES D. KISSNER joined Stratex Networks in July 1995 as President and
Chief Executive Officer and was appointed Chairman in August 1996. He
was CEO until May 2000, and resumed that role in October 2001. Prior to
joining the company, Mr. Kissner was Vice President/General Manager of
the Microelectronics Division of M/A-COM, Inc., a manufacturer of radio
and microwave communication products, from July 1993 to July 1995. From
February 1990 to July 1993, Mr. Kissner served as President, Chief
Executive Officer and a Director of Aristacom International, Inc., a
communications software company. He was Executive Vice President and
General Manager of Fujitsu Network Switching, Inc., from 1984 to 1990,
and continued to serve as an outside Director until October 1993. Mr.
Kissner held a number of key positions at Lucent Technologies from 1971
to 1984. He was responsible from 1980 to 1984 for the international
public switching business. Mr. Kissner is a Director of SonicWall, a
provider of internet security appliances, and serves on the Board of the
NPR (National Public Radio) Foundation. He also is on the Advisory Board
of Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business. Mr. Kissner has a
BS from California State Polytechnic University and an MBA from Santa
Clara University. He holds several aviation records. Profile
TWST: Would you begin with a brief historical sketch of Stratex Networksand a picture of what you are doing at the present time?
Mr. Kissner: We're one of the world's leading independent