Blue Ridge Networks Continues Building World-Class Management Team.

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

CHANTILLY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2002

Secure VPN Provider Poised to Redefine Market as CEO and MCI/UUNET

Veteran Bob Hartnett Assembles Top Sales and Marketing Leaders

Blue Ridge Networks today announced that it has appointed three top networking industry experts to its senior management team.

Blue Ridge Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Hartnett bolstered his senior staff by naming Ian Dix as Chief Marketing Officer, Anthony (Tony) Russo as Executive Vice President of Sales, and Christopher Honigman as Vice President of Channel Development.

"We knew that in order to build upon our success in the commercial and federal intelligence marketplace and to continue to grow into new verticals, we needed to tap the best marketing and sales talent in the industry. With the additions of Ian, Tony and Chris, we're ready to lead this company to the next level," said Hartnett. "Blue Ridge Networks pioneered secure VPN technology more than a decade ago and we continue to set industry-leading security and quality standards."

Ian Dix brings with him more than 15 years experience in marketing network technology and computer services. In his position as CMO, Dix has full responsibility for leading marketing initiatives through a wide range of vertical campaigns and will also be responsible for market positioning and analysis, product positioning, marketing communications and advertising for Blue Ridge.

Before joining Blue Ridge, Dix was most recently Chief Executive Officer of iDirect, a News Corporation funded venture. In addition, Dix has served as Chief Marketing Officer of Broadwing, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Qwest, Vice President of Marketing for LCI International, and various executive positions at MCI.

As Executive VP of Sales, Tony Russo will draw on more than 30 years of sales, marketing, and operations experience in the communications and technology industry to set the strategic sales direction and drive revenue growth for Blue Ridge Networks.

Prior to this position, Russo served as President and Chief Operating Officer of InPhonic, a wireless service provider in Washington, D.C. Before InPhonic, Russo was Senior Vice President of Global Solutions at WorldCom which operates and manages outsourced services such as voice, data, VPNs, and other Internet services. A long time veteran of MCI, Russo held other various executive positions as well, including VP of Data & Global Business Solutions and VP of Strategic Global Services. Russo also has worked for a series of other telecommunications companies, including Satellite Business Systems, where he helped develop a private satellite-network service.

Christopher Honigman has more than 23 years of experience in the communications industry, and brings a wealth of sales experience and a strong track record of success to Blue Ridge. In his position as Vice President of Channel Development, Honigman has full responsibility for leading sales initiatives through a wide range of valued channel partners.

Prior to joining Blue Ridge, Honigman served as Vice President of Sales in Business Markets and Hosting Solutions at Broadwing Communications. He was a Broadwing pioneer, working as one of the sales executives leading the merger between Cincinnati Bell and IXC Communications. Previously, Honigman was Vice President of E-commerce at Philips Electronics North America Corporation and also spent 10 years with MCI.

About Blue Ridge Networks

Blue Ridge Networks provides secure networks for the United States intelligence community and commercial enterprises worldwide. With over 11,000 sites and over 100,000 users in 34 countries, Blue Ridge Networks has led the way in Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology creation and deployment for more than 10 years. As the only secure network provider to earn the Security Proof of Concept Key (SPOCK) validation from the Department of Defense, Blue Ridge guarantees its performance in the critical areas of secure network transmission for those users seeking to send sensitive information via the Internet. The company is headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.blueridgenetworks.com.