Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

[Mindy]

Staccato Names CEO
12.29.04

http://www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=65203

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Staccato Communications, Wireless USB silicon leader and Ultrawideband pioneer, announced today that Rick Kornfeld has joined its executive management team as president, CEO and board member, effective immediately. Mr. Kornfeld earned distinction for many innovations in the field of wireless voice and data communications. Most recently he was vice president and general manager of Texas Instruments' Wireless Center responsible for TI's wireless chipset business. Additionally, Staccato announced that Marty Colombatto, former vice-president and general manager of Broadcom's Networking Business Unit, has also recently joined Staccato's board of directors as chairman.

"Rick successfully led Qualcomm, Linkabit, Dot Wireless, and TI through dozens of successful wireless product development and launch cycles and into hundreds of millions in chipset revenue. He has also helped create some of the most dramatic financial successes in the wireless industry including Qualcomm's multibillion dollar IPO and a near half billion dollar acquisition of Dot Wireless," said Roberto Aiello, founder and CTO of Staccato Communications. "Additionally, Marty built and managed one of the most explosive semiconductor businesses in recent memory as the head of Broadcom's Networking Business Unit", added Roberto. "Very few executives in our business could bring the experience and talent of either Rick or Marty so it is extraordinary for Staccato to now have both involved. This is indicative of the market and growth opportunity ahead of us."

"Ultrawideband has emerged as one of the most promising wireless technologies for the future, and both Staccato and San Diego have emerged as the center of gravity for Ultrawideband technology leadership," said Rick Kornfeld. "Ground floor opportunities with this potential for growth don't emerge very often, and I am very excited to be a part of Staccato at this stage."

While at TI, Mr. Kornfeld oversaw a rapid and sustained growth in wireless chipset revenues. Mr. Kornfeld joined TI through the acquisition of Dot Wireless, which he co-founded and served as its chairman, CEO and president.

Prior to founding Dot Wireless, Mr. Kornfeld was a founding member of NextWave Telecom, Inc., where he was the senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Products division.

Previously, Mr. Kornfeld was vice president of engineering at Qualcomm, Inc. During his 10-year tenure, he helped Qualcomm grow from a 20-person startup to a world leader in telecommunications, currently employing more than 7,000 people. While at Qualcomm, Mr. Kornfeld founded and led the development of the first commercial CDMA subscriber equipment including custom ICs, software, manufacturing, etc. Prior to joining Qualcomm, Mr. Kornfeld held various technical positions at M/A-Com Linkabit.

"Staccato features many of the strengths we'd built at Broadcom to take full advantage of the Ethernet's explosive growth," stated Marty Colombatto. "Our mixed signal expertise positioned us for market leadership then. Now Staccato's true single chip, all-CMOS technology promises comparable advantage in Wireless USB."

Marty Colombatto was one of Broadcom's early employees having started in 1996 and serving 8 years. His most recent position was vice-president and general manager of Broadcom's Networking Business Unit where he grew the annual revenue from zero to over $400 million annually. Prior to Broadcom Marty spent 20 years in the semiconductor business in a broad range of engineering, sales, marketing, and management roles at TI and Reliance Electric.

Dr. Roberto Aiello is transitioning into a full-time CTO role while retaining most of his current duties at Staccato.