Long-time Avid Users Bring Customer Perspective and Industry Experience
to Company's Senior Management Team
TEWKSBURY,
MA--(February 28, 2000)--Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID), an international,
industry-leading provider of digital editing and finishing tools for
information and entertainment applications, announced two new appointments
to its senior management team. Rob Kobrin, a long-time Avid customer
and internationally recognized motion picture and television editor,
will join Avid as the Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing.
Mike Rockwell, previously the Chief Architect of Software Engineering
at Digidesign, a division of Avid, has been named Chief Technology Officer.
"We are committed to ensuring that our product decisions and directions
are in sync with our customers' needs," said David Krall,
Avid's President and Chief Operating Officer. "As experienced Avid
users with extensive industry exposure, Rob and Mike have the perspective
necessary to meet the needs of the customers with whom they so closely
identify. This insight and first-hand knowledge of our customers' issues
will be invaluable in our quest to provide information and services
that will help our customers grow their businesses."
Mr. Kobrin has been a consultant to Avid since 1993 and has worked closely
with many different teams at Avid, from engineering to marketing. Most
recently, he served as an advisor to Avid's Strategy Team, which was
formed in October 1999. In his new role, he will be responsible for
defining marketing and customer requirements for all of Avid's professional
digital editing and publishing products on all platforms.
With more than 25 years of industry-related experience, Mr. Kobrin is
an accomplished editor, writer, director and producer. He has owned
two small businesses, a New York production company and LA-based Avid
rental business, and has extensive experience in all aspects of post-production.
He has cut nine theatrical features and was one of the first beta-testers
of the Avid Model One and the Film Composer® system. Mr. Kobrin was
also closely involved with the launch and development of Open Media
Framework® (OMF®) and has been a long-standing advocate of interoperability
and efficient workflow processes.
Mr. Rockwell joined Avid in November 1999 from Digidesign, where he
was the Chief Architect for Software Engineering for three years. In
this role, he was the technical lead for Digidesign's flagship product,
Pro Tools®. As a member of the Marketing and Product Planning Team at
Digidesign, he was instrumental in helping double the company?s revenue
over the past three years. In his new role at Avid, he will be responsible
for determining and shaping the technical strategy across Avid's product
lines.
Mr. Rockwell began his career as a freelance recording engineer, working
on projects such as "The Wonder Years," "Cadillac Man" and "Cocktail."
He was also the founder and president of an independent software business
and A/V production company that created a number of software utilities
that were licensed to Digidesign. Upon joining Digidesign, Mr. Rockwell
held several positions prior to being appointed Chief Architect of Software
Engineering, including Director of Application Development and General
Manger of the Multi-Media Products Group.
Avid Technology, Inc. is an international, industry-leading provider
of digital audio and video tools for information and entertainment applications.
The company?s products are used by a variety of customers worldwide
including film, television and interactive content producers, TV news
broadcasters, corporate communicators, and consumers. For more information,
visit Avid's website at www.avid.com