Oslo, Norway – July 6, 2006
Opera Software today announced that WilliamJ. Raduchel has joined its Board of Directors. The accomplishedIT-industry veteran strengthens Opera’s board with his experience fromcompanies including AOL, AOL Time Warner, Sun Microsystems, Xerox andMcGraw-Hill. Raduchel’s key contribution to Opera’s future will be histhorough understanding of how the areas of technology, media andinformation are merging.
“I’ve been familiar with Opera Software for more than 10 years and I’vealways admired the company’s vision” says Bill Raduchel. “Opera is leadingthe way in defining how content will be distributed on devices.”
Raduchel shared Opera’s vision of the mobile Web as far back as in 1999.In an interview with IDG in April 1999, while Sun’s Chief StrategyOfficer, he predicted that “The most important Net access device in 2005will be cell phones”. His vision has become a reality in countries such asKorea and Japan, while other regions are quickly picking up pace.
Starting his multifaceted career as an economics professor at HarvardUniversity, Raduchel has gained wide-ranging experience from the fields ofbusiness, finance, media and technology. He held executive positions atXerox and McGraw Hill prior to joining Sun Microsystems where he spent 11years as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Information Officer in addition toa range of other positions. He joined AOL in September 1999 as ChiefTechnology Officer and held the same position at AOL Time Warner after themerger. During this time InfoWorld named him CTO of the year.
Mr. Raduchel left AOL Time Warner at the end of 2002 to become anindependent director, angel investor and strategic advisor. From May of2004 until recently, he was chairman of the board of Ruckus Network, adigital entertainment network for students, serving also as CEO duringmuch of this time. Mr. Raduchel is also a director at additionalIT-related corporations, ranging from new start-ups to public companies.
“I spent three years at AOL TimeWarner learning how the media andtechnology sectors are integrating. Opera is right at the center of thatspace. I will be able to bring my experience and significant understandingof current trends to Opera’s Board,” says Bill Raduchel.
“Bill’s expertise is invaluable to Opera Software. He provides crucialinsight on how Opera can leverage its leadership in providing seamlesscross-device access to the Web and other services,” says Jon S. vonTetzchner, Opera Software CEO.
In its Annual General Meeting held on June 15, 2006, Opera Software’sshareholders also approved Nils A. Foldal as the new Chairman of the Boardof Directors. Mr. Foldal is the investment director in A. WilhelmsenCapital AS and is represented in several boards in venture funds andtechnology companies in Norway. In addition, Ole Peter Lorentzen was votedin as a new member of the Board. Mr. Lorentzen is a Norwegian privateinvestor with extensive experience from investments in several technologycompanies in Norway and abroad.