Emerson Network Power Combines Aperture and Avocent Businesses into New Division for Data Center Infrastructure Management
Emerson Vice President and Chief Information Officer Stephen C. Hassell Appointed President of New Unit
St. Louis [January 11, 2009] – Emerson Network Power (NYSE:EMR), a business of Emerson and the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™, today
announced it is combining its Aperture and new Avocent businesses as a
new division focused on helping data center customers better manage
their infrastructure. This announcement follows the December news that
Emerson’s completed its Avocent acquisition.
The new division is part of Emerson Network Power and is
headquartered in Huntsville, Ala. The unit combines Avocent’s
management systems division, which offers access and control of the
physical aspects of network devices and servers, with Aperture’s
powerful infrastructure software for a robust portfolio of data center
infrastructure management solutions. Emerson acquired Aperture in
February 2008.
The new division will be led by President Stephen C. Hassell, who
previously served as Emerson Vice President and Chief Information
Officer (CIO) since 2004. The division will report into Emerson Group
Vice President Bob Bauer.
“It is appropriate that we are making this announcement in the first
few business days of 2010, as we are ushering in a new era in data
center management,” said Hassell. “The market is ripe for an
infrastructure management solution capable of enhancing energy and
operational efficiency while improving availability. I believe that our
combined talents uniquely position us to deliver a one-of-a-kind
solution to customers throughout the world.”
Hassell, as CIO, was responsible for Emerson's information
technology strategy, including hardware, software, and services, as
well as its telecommunications infrastructure. He has first-hand
experience in data center design and management, as his team is in the
midst of a global consolidation of Emerson’s more than 100 data centers
worldwide and recently opened the company’s flagship data center in St. Louis – a $50 million investment that Emerson anticipates will receive LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Hassell came to Emerson from Invensys, where he served as Chief
Information Officer. Prior to Invensys, Hassell worked in Northrop
Grumman’s Newport News division. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
computer science from the United States Naval Academy and served as an
officer in the U.S. Navy. He also holds a master’s in management from
the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.
Tom Waun, president of Aperture, will take on additional
responsibility as president of global sales and marketing for the new
division, and will join Avocent management team members who will retain
their existing roles.
For more information on the Avocent acquisition, Aperture, or any of
the products and solutions from Emerson Network Power, visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com. For more information on Avocent technologies and solutions, please visit www.Avocent.com.
About Emerson Network Power
Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), is the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™
from grid to chip for telecommunication networks, data centers, health
care and industrial facilities. Emerson Network Power provides
innovative solutions and expertise in areas including AC and DC power
and precision cooling systems, embedded computing and power, integrated
racks and enclosures, power switching and controls, monitoring, and
connectivity. All solutions are supported globally by local Emerson
Network Power service technicians. Learn more about Emerson Network
Power products and services at www.EmersonNetworkPower.com.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St.
Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and
engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers
through its network power, process management, industrial automation,
climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Emerson’s
sales in fiscal 2009 were $20.9 billion. The company is ranked 94th on
the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. For more
information, visit www.Emerson.com.