Western Digital 2010 Annual Report Download - page 22

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 22 of the 2010 Western Digital annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 104

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104

In addition to patent protection of certain intellectual property rights, we consider elements of our product designs
and processes to be proprietary and confidential. We believe that our non-patented intellectual property, particularly
some of our process technology, is an important factor in our success. We rely upon non-disclosure agreements and
contractual provisions and a system of internal safeguards to protect our proprietary information. Despite these
safeguards, there is a risk that competitors may obtain and use such information. The laws of foreign jurisdictions
in which we conduct business may provide less protection for confidential information than the U.S.
We rely on certain technology that we license from other parties to manufacture and sell WD products. We believe
that we have adequate cross-licenses and other agreements in place in addition to our own intellectual property portfolio
to compete successfully in the hard drive industry. For additional discussion of risks related to our ownership and use of
intellectual property, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Environmental Regulation
We are subject to a variety of regulations in connection with our operations. We believe that we have obtained or are
in the process of obtaining all necessary environmental permits for our operations. For additional discussion of risks
related to environmental regulation, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Employees
As of July 2, 2010, we employed a total of approximately 62,500 employees worldwide. This represents an increase
in headcount of approximately 36% since July 3, 2009 and an increase of approximately 25% since June 27, 2008. Many
of our employees are highly skilled, and our continued success depends in part upon our ability to attract and retain such
employees. Accordingly, we offer employee benefit programs, which we believe are, in the aggregate, competitive with
those offered by our competitors. We and most of our competitors nevertheless have difficulty at times hiring and
retaining certain skilled employees. We have engaged consultants and contract personnel to fill these needs until full-
time employees could be recruited. We consider our employee relations to be good. For additional discussion of risks
related to our skilled employees, see Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Available Information
We maintain an Internet Web site at www.westerndigital.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to
Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available on our Web site at
www.westerndigital.com, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after the electronic filing of these reports with,
or furnishing of these reports to, the SEC. Any materials we file with the SEC are available at the SEC’s Public Reference
Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Additional information about the operation of the Public Reference
Room can also be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a Web site at
www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file
electronically with the SEC, including us.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Listed below are all of our executive officers as of July 2, 2010, followed by a brief account of their business
experience during the past five years. Executive officers are normally appointed annually by the Board of Directors at a
meeting of the directors immediately following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. There are no family relationships
among these officers nor any arrangements or understandings between any officer and any other person pursuant to which
an officer was selected.
Name Age Position
John F. Coyne . . .................. 60 President and Chief Executive Officer
Timothy M. Leyden ................ 58 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Martin W. Finkbeiner .............. 51 Executive Vice President, Operations
Raymond M. Bukaty ............... 52 Senior Vice President, Administration, General Counsel
and Secretary
16