Geoworks Organized for Rapid Growth in the Mobile Products
And Services Markets
ALAMEDA, Calif., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ --
Geoworks Corporation (Nasdaq: GWRX), a leading innovator in mobile data
communications services and technologies, today announced the promotion of
Steve Baker from Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to President and
Chief Operating Officer (COO). The company also announced that current
President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Grannan will retain the position of
CEO.
"Over the last two years, Steve has played a key leadership role in
driving the operational and financial re-structuring of Geoworks," said Dave
Grannan. "We are excited about the opportunity to leverage Steve's talents
more broadly across the entire organization as we organize for effective
integration of additional new products and services into the Geoworks
portfolio."
During his tenure as CFO, Baker has been credited with repositioning
Geoworks financially, creating new business models and leading the company to
record quarterly revenue, cash flow and earnings. Baker also played key roles
in the strategic divestiture of a Seattle operation to Amazon.com in 1999 and
in the acquisition of the AirBoss Wireless Business unit from Telcordia
Technologies this year.
Under the new organizational structure, Grannan will remain CEO with
responsibility for setting the company's strategic vision, leading M&A and
financing activities, driving business development and developing key customer
relationships in the rapidly growing market. Baker will be responsible for
worldwide daily operations at the company, including sales, marketing and
finance. In addition, Baker has reorganized the product groups into two
development and delivery divisions, one focused on Products headed by Dave
Pepe, VP, Products and the other on Services led by Ken Norbury, VP, Services.
The company is now aligned to aggressively serve the dramatic worldwide mobile
growth and effectively integrate new acquisition and partnership
opportunities. To help implement this change, Baker has promoted Tim Toppin
from Controller to CFO.
"We created this new organizational structure to position the company for
continued rapid growth via acquisition and partnership," said David Neylon,
Chairman of the Geoworks Board of Directors. "Leveraging Steve's leadership
skills and operational talent will enable Dave Grannan and his team to focus
on developing company strategy and building external relationships while
ensuring that Geoworks continues to execute against its business plan and
customer commitments."
In addition to extensive financial experience with Lucent Technologies,
Octel Communications , Bellcore, Novell, Unix System Laboratories and AT&T,
Baker has significant experience in a number of operational roles. Baker's
past experience includes product management and strategic planning roles at
AT&T; merger and acquisition experience with AT&T, Novell, Octel, Lucent and
Bellcore; and customer licensing, customer contracting and manufacturing
experience with Novell.
In addition, Baker has served as a Director on the Geoworks Board since
October 1999. He also served as a Board Director, Secretary and Treasurer for
Affinity Federal Credit Union from 1993 - 1996.
About Geoworks
Geoworks Corporation is a leading innovator in wireless data
communications services and technologies for the business-to-business and
business-to-consumer markets. Geoworks' Mobile ASP(TM) solution utilizes a
flexible combination of its proprietary Premion(R) Server+ technology and its
mobile media expertise to enable businesses to reach their mobile customers
with relevant and timely information. Geoworks AirBoss(TM) client/server
mobile data solutions provide carrier-grade customizable systems ranging from
field service applications to telematics solutions. Based in Alameda,
California, the company has additional offices in New Jersey, Japan and the
United Kingdom, and can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.geoworks.com .
In keeping with U.S. law, Geoworks notes that this press release includes
forward-looking statements, including the emergence of, and Geoworks'
participation in, the mobile data and technology services market. Actual
results may vary significantly due to various risks and uncertainties. Those
include, but are not limited to, the following: i) the mobile data and
technology services market may not emerge to the degree or timing anticipated;
and ii) new technologies and new services are inherently subject to
development, timing and consumer acceptance risks. Additional information is
available in the Risk Factors and Business discussions in the Company's Forms
10-K, 10-Q and other filings available from the Company or from the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Geoworks Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.geoworks.com
CONTACT:
Kristy Cory of Red Whistle Communications,
503-552-3749, or kcory@geoworks.com, for Geoworks Corporation; or
Bob Bogard of Geoworks, 510-814-5811, or bbogard@geoworks.com
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