Walter Alessandrini

Who is Walter Alessandrini?

Walter has a distinguished career as an entrepreneur and corporate executive having provided the

leadership for a number of successful technologies multi-national corporations and startup ventures.

Prior to joining Ometric Corporation, Walter was chairman and CEO of Avanex Corporation, a photonics

company in Silicon Valley he joined in 1999 and led through a highly successful transition from a

startup to an industry-leading public company in less than a year.

Before joining Avanex, Walter was president and CEO of Pirelli Cables and Systems North America,

a leader in photonic systems, fiberoptics, and cables for telecommunications and power.

Prior to joining Pirelli, Walter was president and CEO of Union Switch Signal Inc., a leading

supplier of signaling, automation, and control equipment and systems to railroads and mass transit

worldwide. His tenure at Union Switch included a successful IPO in 1993.

Walter began his career as a marketing engineer with Varian in Turin. In 1980, he transferred to

the U.S. to work in Palo Alto, CA, as a marketing manager with Varian. He has covered positions with

increasing responsibilities in marketing and general management, first with Varian from 1973 to 1984,

and then as president of Gryphon Products (Hayward, Calif.).

Walter was born in Chiavari, Italy. In 1972, he received a doctorate in mechanical engineering

from the University of Genoa.

In 1994, Ernst Young Inc. Magazine/Merrill Lynch named Walter South Carolina Entrepreneur of

the Year in recognition of his leadership of Union Switch Signal.

Walter's commitment to community progress through business growth led to his designation as South

Carolina Ambassador of Economic Development in 1995 and Columbia International Business Person of

the Year in 1997.