Contact:
Melody Chalaban
Public Relations Manager
(310)
604-2347
(310) 864-2425 mobile
melodych@belkin.com
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Michael Grainger Joins Belkin's Board of Directors
Former COO at Ingram Micro provides significant financial, operational, international, and channel expertise
(Compton, CA) - May 23, 2005 - Belkin International, Inc., the global leader in connectivity solutions, announces the appointment of Michael J. Grainger to its Board of Directors. The addition of Mr. Grainger helps bolster and support Belkin's dedicated focus to evolving its VAR and SMB business.
With more than 14 years in the industry, Mr. Grainger brings a wealth of experience, talent, and expertise to Belkin's Board. As Ingram Micro Inc.'s President and Chief Operating Officer from 2001 to 2004, Mr. Grainger guided the organization in its efforts to play a more prominent role with its manufacturer partners and customers, resulting in numerous partner awards for the company. His visibility in the channel has garnered him widespread recognition, and, in 2003, he was named as one of CRN magazine's Top 25 Executives in the IT industry. As Ingram Micro's Chief Financial Officer from 1996 to 2001, Mr. Grainger led its successful IPO, as well as several significant acquisitions. Prior to Ingram Micro, Mr. Grainger was the Vice President & Controller at Ingram Industries Inc. (former parent company of Ingram Micro) for six years. Since retiring from Ingram Micro, Mr. Grainger has joined the Boards of Directors of ScanScource Inc. and Ingram Industries.
"Mike's proven track record as a visionary leader in the VAR space makes him an extremely valuable addition to our Board of Directors," says Chet Pipkin, CEO and President of Belkin International, Inc.. "As we continue to invest in and build our channel program emphasizing and strengthening our engagement with distribution, Mike's guidance will help us to accomplish our objectives in this regard."
"Our goal is to fully equip solution providers with the right solutions for their customers, which involves effectively communicating and demonstrating the value that we bring to both their businesses and their customers," continues Mr. Pipkin. "We will be announcing further enhancements to our VAR, SMB, and Enterprise efforts over the coming months."
About Belkin
Corporation
Belkin International, Inc., the global leader in connectivity
solutions, offers a range of innovations for the computer, electronics, and
mobile consumer. The company has traveled a long way in becoming the top brand
market leader. Belkin was started in a garage in Hawthorne, California, in 1983
with only one employee. Today, Belkin is one of the fastest growing companies in
the United States. The company has made the Inc. magazine list of the 500
fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S. twice; has earned entrance
into Inc. magazine's 2003 Hall of Fame after placing in the Inner City Top 100
List for five consecutive years; and has ranked in the Los Angeles Business
Journal's annual Fastest Growing Private Companies List since 1999.
With a diverse and far-reaching product mix consisting of home and enterprise networking, audio video solutions, KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) and peripheral sharing, power protection and cabling, as well as USB and FireWire® devices, Belkin extends its reach also to Bluetooth™, cellular, PDA, iPod®, and other solutions for mobile computing. Belkin's end-to-end VoIP solution allows wholesale VoIP customers to rapidly deploy a customized branded VoIP service with minimal up-front cost. Belkin products are available through www.belkin.com as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and superstores.