(Accedian Networks') EtherNEWS Blog

May 25, 2010, Montreal, Canada – Accedian Networks, the market-leading developer of Carrier Ethernet Performance Assurance Network Interface Devices (NIDs) and service management solutions, today announced that Craig Easley has joined the company as the Vice President of Marketing. Easley is a well known Carrier Ethernet professional, having served seven terms on the Metro Ethernet Forum’s (MEF) board of directors, and currently serving as the Vice President and Co-Chair of the MEF Marketing Committee. Easley is also the executive sponsor of the MEF’s Operations, Administration, Maintenance (OAM) and Management Work Group.

Mr. Easley is an experienced telecommunications industry executive, having directed the service provider-focused marketing activities for notable companies including Bay Networks/Nortel, Extreme Networks and Actelis Networks. He has defined and introduced a number of successful telecommunications equipment and management platforms targeting the Carrier Ethernet market. As a volunteer to industry standards organizations, he has made a number of contributions to key Carrier Ethernet initiatives, including serving as President of the Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance where he led the definition and promotion of the Ethernet OAM standard. A crucial component of the IEEE’s Ethernet in the First Mile (IEEE 802.3ah) effort, this pioneering work is now the basis for both the IEEE (802.1ag) and ITU (Y.1731) service management standards.

In addition to his extensive product management and marketing background, Easley is an accomplished technical instructor. In response to a growing demand for industry education he founded The Carrier Ethernet Academy, an organization dedicated to training programs focused on the Carrier Ethernet industry, the work of the MEF and related standards organizations.

Easley joins Accedian Networks during a period of accelerated market share expansion, highlighted by four years of 100%+ year-over-year growth and a growing roster of international tier-1 service provider customers. With his knowledge of OAM standards and experience developing a variety of Carrier Ethernet switch/routers (CESRs) that implement this technology, Easley is an ideal fit for Accedian.

Accedian’s reputation as the preferred supplier of Performance Assurance solutions comes from both the success of its innovative products, as well as the company’s dedication to providing educational tutorial material to its growing client base of networking professionals. “Accedian Networks represents a unique opportunity to continue championing the Carrier Ethernet industry.” said Craig Easley. “I have admired the company’s products and solutions along with their ability to execute over the past several years. I am excited by the opportunity to work with one of the most well respected companies in the Carrier Ethernet industry.“

“Accedian Network’s accelerating growth and continued market leadership has enabled us to attract top talent to join our executive team.” said Patrick Ostiguy, president and chief executive officer of Accedian Networks. “The addition of Craig Easley to our marketing team will help us continue to increase our momentum in the market as we expand our commercial efforts.”

Accedian will be speaking at the Network Automation Conference (Paris, France, 1-3 June), and will be exhibiting at CommunicAsia (15-18 June, Singapore) and the Light Reading Mobile Backhaul Live event in New York City this June 23rd. Event information: Accedian.com/events.