APPLICATIONS

ANSYS, a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, today announced that its board of directors has elected Michael C. Thurk, Chief Operating Officer of Avaya Inc., to the ANSYS board. He also has been appointed to the Audit Committee. Thurk brings to ANSYS a diversity of 32 years of leadership experience in the technology industry. Prior to his current role, Thurk served as President, Global Communications Solutions and as a Group Vice President, Systems at Avaya, a leader in corporate communications networking solutions and services. His experience also includes management positions at Ericsson and several U.S. data communications companies. At Ericsson, he was Executive Vice President, Division Data Backbone and Optical Networks and President, Ericsson Datacom, Inc. Before Ericsson, Thurk was President of Xyplex Networks and a vice president with General DataComm. Prior to that, he worked for Digital Equipment Corporation, in various senior roles and as a vice president responsible for enterprise network related businesses. Thurk has a B.S. in computer science from Purdue University, an M.B.A. from Babson College, and completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD in France. "We are delighted to welcome Mike to the board," said Peter Smith, Chairman of ANSYS, Inc. "Mike's impressive combination of strategic, operational and general management experience in the technology sector make him a most valuable addition to the ANSYS board of directors."