Avanex Names Industry Vet as Senior VP and GM

Avanex Corp. of Fremont, Calif., a provider of intelligent photonic solutions for next-generation optical networks, today announced the appointment of Pat Edsell as senior vice president and general manager. Edsell is responsible for the company’s product development center in Shanghai and the company’s transmission, components and modules, and advanced modules and subsystems business units. Edsell brings over 23 years of senior executive experience in the optical and microelectronic industries to his new position. Most recently, he served as CEO of NP Photonics, a venture-backed photonics startup company specializing in the sensing, medical and R&D markets. Prior to that, Edsell served as CEO of Spectra-Physics (now a division of Newport Corp.). He also held positions at Pharos AB in Stockholm, GP Technologies, Sun Co. and GE.