iRobot 2010 Annual Report Download - page 13

the director of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Dr. Brooks is a member of the National Academy of
Engineering. Dr. Brooks holds a degree in pure mathematics from the Flinders University of South Australia
and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University. As a co-founder and former chief technology
officer, Dr. Brooks provides a critical contribution to the board of directors reflecting his detailed knowledge
of the robotics industry.
Ronald Chwang, Ph.D, has served as a director since November 1998. Dr. Chwang is the chairman and
president of iD Ventures America, LLC (formerly known as Acer Technology Ventures) under the iD
SoftCapital Group, a venture investment and management consulting service group formed in January 2005.
From August 1998 until December 2004, Dr. Chwang was the chairman and president of Acer Technology
Ventures, LLC, managing high-tech venture investment activities in North America. Dr. Chwang also serves
on the board of directors of AU Optronics and a number of other private high tech companies and is a former
director of Silicon Storage Technologies. Dr. Chwang holds a B.Eng. (with honors) in Electrical Engineering
from McGill University and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Chwang brings to the board of directors his extensive experience in the technology industry, through both
company operations and venture capital investment.
Gail Deegan has been nominated to serve as a director. From February 1996 until her retirement in
September 2001, Ms. Deegan served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Houghton
Mifflin Company, a publishing company. From February 1995 to February 1996, Ms. Deegan was senior vice
president of regulatory and government affairs for NYNEX New England, and from November 1991 to
January 1995, was vice president and chief financial officer of New England Telephone. From 1988 to January
1990, Ms. Deegan was senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Eastern Enterprises, and
from February 1990 to May 1991, was senior vice president, chief financial officer and chief administrative
officer. Ms. Deegan is a director of EMC Corporation and a former director of TJX Companies, Inc.
Ms. Deegan holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from The College of Saint Rose, a master’s
degree in History from Ohio State University, and an MBA from Simmons College School of Management. If
elected, Ms. Deegan will bring to our board of directors her extensive experience with financial accounting
matters for complex organizations and oversight of the financial reporting process of public companies.
Jacques S. Gansler, Ph.D. has served as a director since July 2004. Dr. Gansler has been a professor at
the University of Maryland, where he leads the school’s Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise, since
January 2001. From November 1997 until January 2001, Dr. Gansler served as the Under Secretary of Defense
for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics for the U.S. federal government. Dr. Gansler also serves on the
board of directors of TTM Technologies, Inc.. Dr. Gansler holds a B.E. in electrical engineering from Yale
University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University, an M.A. in Political Economy
from New School for Social Research, and a Ph.D. in Economics from American University. Dr. Gansler
brings to the board of directors his experience working with the federal government and in the defense
industry.
Andrea Geisser has served as a director since March 2004. Mr. Geisser is currently a senior advisor to
Zephyr Management Inc., a global private equity firm that specializes in emerging markets (Africa, India) and
a member of the investment committee of some of those funds. From 1995 to 2005, Mr. Geisser was a
managing director of Fenway Partners. Prior to founding Fenway Partners, Mr. Geisser was a managing
director of Butler Capital Corporation. Prior to that, he was a managing director of Onex Investment
Corporation, a Canadian management buyout company. From 1974 to 1986, he was a senior officer of Exor
America. Mr. Geisser has been a board member and audit committee member of several private companies.
Mr. Geisser holds a bachelor’s degree from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and a P.M.D. from Harvard
Business School. Mr. Geisser brings to the board of directors his extensive experience regarding the
management of companies, as well as his financial expertise.
Helen Greiner, a co-founder of iRobot, has served as a director since July 1994. Ms. Greiner also served
as president of iRobot from June 1997 until February 2004 and as chairman of the board from February 2004
until October 2008. In October 2008, Ms. Greiner resigned as an employee of iRobot and as chairman of the
board to become chairman, president & CEO of CyPhy Works. Prior to joining iRobot, Ms. Greiner founded
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Proxy Statement