POET Technologies Appoints Stephane Gagnon to Special Strategic Committee Advisory Board.
V.PTK, OPELF TORONTO, ONTARIO and STORRS, CONNECTICUT--(Marketwired - Oct. 7, 2013) - POET Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE: PTK)(OTC:POETF) ("the Company") - developer of the proprietary planar-optoelectronic technology ("POET") platform for monolithic fabrication of integrated electronic and optical devices on a single semiconductor wafer - announced today the appointment of Stephane Gagnon to POET's Strategic Special Committee (SSC) Advisory Board.
Mr. Gagnon has over 20 years of experience in the semiconductor, telecommunication and processor industry. Stephane's most recent role was Senior Director of Product Management for Integrated Device Technology (IDT) where he drove business strategy for the RapidIO® switching and IP product line. His primary responsibilities included overall strategy and product marketing, in addition to business development and the management of international customers and partner relationships. Mr. Gagnon became involved with the RapidIO Trade Association (RTA) Technical Working Group 13 years ago and has held the position of Chairman of the RTA Steering Committee for over 3 years.
Prior to his role at IDT and Tundra Semiconductor Corporation, which was acquired by IDT, Stephane held positions at Motorola and Nortel Networks and holds a BSc in Computer Engineering from Laval University.
Peter Copetti, Executive Director and Chairman of the SSC commented, "I am extremely pleased to welcome Stephane to my team. He is current in terms of industry relationships and has demonstrated the ability to drive new technology into the marketplace as he did in achieving 100% market share in the LTE Wireless Base station business at IDT with RapidIO®. I believe he will add tremendous value."
As an advisor to the SSC, Stephane will be granted incentive stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 300,000 common shares, representing 0.23% of the outstanding shares of the Company. The stock options are exercisable at a price per share of CA$0.43 and expire October 4, 2018 based on the closing trading price on October 4th, 2013. The options will vest and be exercisable on the basis of 25% on the date of grant and 25% every six months thereafter. These options were granted subject to provisions of the Company's stock option plan which was approved by the disinterested shareholders of the Company (excluding directors, senior officers and other insiders), and are subject to the TSX Venture Exchange policies and the applicable securities laws. There are currently 132,651,115 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding and 22,552,750 options.