NetApp Strengthens Board

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) today announced that it has expanded its board of directors. NetApp chief executive officer Dan Warmenhoven is the companys new chairman, assuming the position held by Don Valentine since 1994. Valentine remains on the board in the newly created position of lead independent director. In addition, NetApp president and chief operating officer Tom Georgens joins the company’s board of directors. Georgens will be the 11th member of the NetApp board. Both Warmenhoven and Georgens will continue to hold their current executive positions within the company. The new board changes are effective immediately.

“I would like to express our appreciation to Don Valentine for his 14 years as chairman of the board of directors and the leadership he provided during that period to help us grow from a small, private company to an industry leader,” said Dan Warmenhoven, NetApp chairman and CEO. “Don has been a mentor to me and a tremendous resource for the executive team. I am honored to succeed him as the new chairman and am very pleased that Don will be continuing on the board in the role of lead independent director. I am also excited to announce that Tom Georgens has been elected by the board as a director of the company. In his new role as president and chief operating officer, we are eager to have Tom contribute at the board level. We are clearly building for the future and strengthening our management ranks. This is an exciting time for NetApp.”

NetApp Inc.