New Vice President Joins Bookham Technology from U.S.A


OXFORDSHIRE, U.K., May 16, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Bookham Technology plc (LSE:BHM) (Nasdaq:BKHM), a leading provider of optical components for fiber optic communication networks, today announced that Diane Wotus has been appointed as vice president of ASOC manufacturing. Ms. Wotus joins Bookham with over 20 years' experience in technology manufacturing in wafer fabrication and rigid disc manufacturing, from the U.S.A.

Diane comes to Bookham from Read-Rite Corp, Fremont, CA., one of the world's leading independent manufacturers of magnetic recording head assemblies for disk and tape drives, where she has been senior director, wafer fab manufacturing from 1999. Prior to this Diane worked from 1991 to 1998 for StorMedia Incorporated, Santa Clara, CA., in various positions terminating with that of vice president, operations. Diane was integral to the growth of the manufacturing operations division, which doubled in revenues over a one year period.

Diane holds a bachelor of science in Chemical Engineering/Engineering & Public Policy from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

Steve Abely, chief financial officer of Bookham Technology plc, commented. "Diane will be assuming full responsibility for all ASOC manufacturing operations. I believe Diane will be a great addition to our team and will provide leadership in instituting a process focus and discipline into the ASOC manufacturing operations. We believe we have shown ASOC to be the leading semiconductor process for integrating multiple optical functions on a single silicon chip and, as our ASOC-based products now start moving to the high-volume manufacturing stage and cost-reduction stage, Diane's experience in wafer fab and disk drives will be extremely valuable."

Bookham Technology (LSE:BHM) (Nasdaq:BKHM) designs, manufactures and markets integrated multi-functional active and passive optical components using high volume production methods. Using patented silicon-based ASOC, Gallium Arsenide and Indium Phosphide technologies, the company provides end-to-end networking solutions that offer higher performance and greater systems capability to communications network system providers.

The company, whose securities are traded on Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange, is headquartered in the U.K., with offices and manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and U.K., and has additional offices in France, Italy, Japan and China. The company employs approximately 850 people world-wide.

More information on Bookham Technology is available at www.bookham.com

Bookham and ASOC are registered trademarks of Bookham Technology plc



            

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