Mike Pascoe, CEO Meriton Networks

Veteran technology executive Michael Pascoe has been named CEO at Ottawa's Meriton Networks, joining the long list of former Newbridge/Alcatel employees in the company's upper ranks.

Mr. Pascoe was formerly CEO at PairGain Technologies of California, which was acquired by ADC Telecommunications in 2000 for $3 billion. At Newbridge, he was president of the U.S. division, as well as the executive vice president/general manager of the North and South America business regions.

Mr. Pascoe joined the Meriton board of directors in 2001, and was recently approached by president and COO Mike Gassewitz to take over the company's top job. Mr. Pascoe will continue to sit on the board, and Mr. Gassewitz will continue in his current executive role.

Mr. Pascoe says he sees many similarities between Meriton today and the early days of Newbridge Networks. Meriton, he says, has recently begun to gain market traction and he sees "major growth over the next two years."

Meriton makes a line of optical networking products that allows carriers to offer high-speed broadband services with lower capital and operating expenses and the ability to effectively manage network operations.

Last week, Meriton announced a partnership with Fujitsu Europe, which Mr. Pascoe says will lead to Meriton closing large business with European customers. In something of a twist, it was Fujitsu's customers who said they wanted to use Meriton gear and urged Fujitsu to negotiate the partnership.

Meriton currently employs about 70 people, and Mr. Pascoe expects to add "several dozen" employees over the next year or so.

While the company will continue to serve its existing customers—including Tier 2 carriers, enterprise customers and research and education networks — he sees the greatest opportunity over the next year among large incumbent carriers.

"We will see continued growth," he predicts.