GOVERNMENT

Global supercomputer leader Cray Inc. announced that high performance computing (HPC) industry veteran Mamoru Nakano has been appointed president of Cray Japan. Nakano joins Cray from Hewlett Packard, where he built a strong track record of success as general manager for HPC and Linux in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. In his new role, Nakano will be responsible for creating and implementing Cray Japan's marketing and sales strategy, including collaborating closely with customers, expanding opportunities for current and future Cray products, and leading Cray Japan's marketing, sales and technical teams. He will report to Peter Ungaro, Cray senior vice president for sales, marketing and service. "Nakano-san is the perfect person to lead Cray Japan through this high growth stage and beyond," said Cray Chairman and CEO Jim Rottsolk. "He is one of the most successful, highly respected HPC leaders in Japan. He has earned the trust of senior officials in Japan's public and private sectors. It is exciting to have someone with Nakano-san's strong customer orientation and proven track record to pursue the aggressive growth objectives Cray has set for our business in Japan. I look forward to working closely with him as a key contributor on our worldwide management team." "I am very excited about joining the new Cray and leading the Cray Japan team," Nakano said. "Cray has the most powerful, comprehensive solutions for HPC customers today and the most compelling vision for delivering superior customer solutions in the future. The goal we will passionately pursue is to exceed our customers' expectations." After starting out 23 years ago in a research position with Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, Nakano held a series of increasingly responsible management positions in Japan with Digital Equipment Corporation and that firm's new parent, Compaq, before the latter company was acquired by Hewlett Packard. His management experience includes sales, marketing and service, all in the technical computing market in which Cray also competes. Nakano-san demonstrated notable leadership in growing market share for DEC, Compaq and Hewlett Packard and introducing the companies' products to new customers and new market segments.