Historical Leader Dan Warmenhoven to Definitively Leaving NetApp

NetApp, Inc. announced several changes to its board of directors.

After a twenty-year career at NetApp, where he served previously as CEO and currently as COB, Dan J. Warmenhoven has decided to retire from his position and will not seek re-election. Warmenhoven will serve out his current term on the board until the company’s annual meeting of stockholders in September 2014.

  Warmenhoven, 62, served as the CEO of NetApp (also known as Network Appliance Inc.) from October 1994 to August 19, 2009 and served as its president from October 1994 to May 2000. He joined NetApp in October 1994. Prior to NetApp, he served in various capacities, including president and CEO of Network Equipment Technologies Inc., a telecommunications company, from November 1989 to January 1994. He is a veteran of HP, where he served as senior management positions including GM of the information networks group. He served in executive and managerial positions, including GM of the information networks group of HP from 1985 to 1989. From 1972 to 1985, he was at IBM Corporation in the communications products division, including engineering manager for the token-ring LAN.

He served as executive chairman at NetApp and as its chaircman since March 10, 2008.

Warmenhoven serves as chairman of Stoke, Inc. He was as chairman of Network Equipment Technologies Inc., from November 1989 to January 1994 and Redback Networks Inc. since May 7, 2003.

He has been the lead independent director of Aruba Networks, Inc. since October 2009 and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. since March 2012. He has been a director of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. since 2012. He has been a director of Aruba Wireless Networks since December 11, 2006, Aruba Networks Inc. since July 2006 and NetApp Inc. since October 1994.

He serves as a director of The Tech Museum of Innovation, Bechtel Group Inc., Bang Networks Inc., and Stoke Inc.

He serves on the board of directors of two private companies at Redback Networks Inc., since April 1999, at Procket Networks Inc. and PowerFile Inc.

In 2004, he won the National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. In 2001, Business Week named Warmenhoven as one of its Top 25 Managers for the year.

He holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, with honors, from Princeton University. He received honorary degree from Santa Clara University.

 Tom Georgens, CEO of NetApp, has been elected COB and assumes the associated duties immediately.

“I want to express my deep appreciation for Dan’s many contributions as COB at NetApp,” said Georgens. “Dan’s extensive experience has been instrumental to our ongoing efforts to deliver enhanced value to our shareholders. His leadership, commitment and guidance will be missed and I wish him well in his future endeavors.”

“I have greatly appreciated and enjoyed my time leading this board for NetApp,” said Warmenhoven. “During the past twenty years with NetApp, I am always amazed at the drive and dedication of this organization to continue to build a model company and deliver innovative outcomes to partners, customers and shareholders. I look forward to following NetApp’s success well into the future.“

Additionally, Nicholas Moore, lead independent director has announced his intention to retire from the board and will not seek re-election. Michael Nevens will become lead independent director, effective immediately. Moore will serve out his current term on the board until the company’s annual meeting of stockholders in September 2014, and will facilitate the transition of lead independent director duties to Nevens.

“I would like to thank Nick for his invaluable contributions during his twelve years of service as a member of the NetApp board and our lead independent director,” said Georgens. “His dedication and leadership will be missed and we wish him well. I also appreciate Mike’s willingness to increase his responsibilities on the board as our new lead independent director.“

“I have greatly enjoyed my time with NetApp in service to the company and its shareholders,” said Moore. “This is an appropriate time for me to make this transition and I am confident that Mike will bring wisdom, discipline and value to the board and the company.”

Nevens was appointed to the NetApp board in December 2009. He serves as a senior advisor to Permira, an international private equity fund. He also serves on the board of directors of Altera and Ciena Corporation. He serves on the board of trustees of the San Jose Museum of Art. He is a member of the advisory council of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, where he has been an adjunct professor of corporate governance and strategy.