SNIA EUROPE CONTINUES TO GROW AND BREAKS THE 100TH MEMBER MARK

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) Europe today announced its membership now counts over one hundred organisations, consultants and end-users with the recent addition of six new member companies: Data Centre Technologies (Belgium), Fibre Technologies (UK), Gresham (France), Intransa (UK), Open-e (Germany), Overland Storage (EMEA), and Plasmon Data (UK).

'The success of the SNIA in Europe underlines the crucial role the storage industry plays in today's business environment', said Paul Klinkby-Silver, General Manager EMEA, Intransa. 'The fundamental importance of data to every aspect of commercial life; the increasing need for regulatory compliance; and the growing demand for disaster recovery solutions, all contribute to the need for robust and reliable storage. Intransa is proud to be part of the SNIA's campaign to educate and empower the industry, and promote the benefits of networked storage.'

'SNIA Europe membership is vital to Overland Storage. It helps us fully understand the changing European market and we benefit from assisting in the development of new standards,' said Chris James, EMEA Marketing Director, Overland Storage. 'SNIA Europe is a key component in helping us to maintain our market leadership position in midrange storage.'

'I am thrilled SNIA Europe has grown to become the largest independent representative body for the storage industry in Europe; the expansion of the association is a direct result of the value it brings to the industry as a whole,' said Paul Talbut, the association's Chairman. 'Over the years we have brought vendors, resellers and end users closer together and we are now looking to strengthen these relationships through our continuous efforts to educate and empower the storage industry.'

In order to promote the understanding and adoption of networked storage SNIA Europe runs a coordinated series of activities at both pan-European and individual country-level; these include:

* Education: SNIA runs a number of tutorials developed by its members for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the networked storage industry and its technologies;

* Certification: SNIA has developed a certification program for IT professionals. This is the first independent certification of its kind;

* Storage User Council: country-specific, vendor-independent user groups run by users for users with the participation and support of the vendor community. The European End User Council Chair is an advisory member of the SNIA Europe Board of Directors;

* Storage Networking World - Europe (www.snweurope.com): the only fully independent conference where IT professionals can listen to the industry's leading figures share their expertise and insights, attend SNIA-endorsed education tracks, get hands-on access to the wide range of SNIA-sanctioned solutions demonstrations, and get the time to mix with industry peers and technology experts who are faced with similar IT storage issues every day.

To date SNIA Europe has set up country and regional committees in Benelux, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK; the Spanish committee will be launched in the next few months.

SNIA Europe's programs are overseen by its Board of Directors, consisting of 13 elected members responsible for high-level strategy, direction, focus and region-wide activities. Four directors hold the single officer positions of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Other members of the Board are responsible for membership, events, marketing, education and country committee liaison. Other committees include those responsible for the IP Storage Initiative and for SMI. For 2005 the Board of Directors is made up as follows from representatives from various European countries:

* John Calis, CommVault - The Netherlands
* Peter Coleman, Infinity I/O - UK (Treasurer)
* Philippe Foss, Xiotech - France (SNW Chair)
* Michael Giesselbach, StorageTek - Germany
* Joergen Johansen, Brocade - Denmark
* Andy Litherland, ACAL Storage Networking - UK
* Dante Malagrino, Cisco - UK (Education Chair)
* Jason Phippen, Computer Associates - UK (Vice Chair)
* Robin Pilcher, CNT - UK (Marketing Co-Chair)
* Malte Rademacher, EMC - Germany (Events Chair)
* Daniel Sazbon, IBM - France (Strategic Alliances Chair)
* Paul Talbut, hps - UK (Chairman of the Board)
* Alan Wallman, Emulex - UK (Secretary)

In addition there are a variable number of Advisory Board Members who are invited to support the Board of Directors with particular skills and
expertise. Today they are:

* Juergen Arnold, hp - Germany
* Gill Borniche, EMC - France (Marketing Chair)
* Duncan Ellis, Ciena - UK (SNW Vice Chair)
* Thierry Flajoliet - France
* Charles Inches, Corner Bank - Switzerland (End User Council Chair)
* Russ Johnson, Adaptec - UK (IP Storage Initiative Chair)
* Sam Samuel, Zycko - UK
* Peter Springfield, Bell Microproducts - UK
* Neal Watkins, VERITAS - UK.