Smith takes over from Stan Gallagher who assumed the role of interim CEO in September 2019, Gallagher will stay on as chief operating officer and principal financial officer.
"The addition of Pete to our team is a win for Aviat and all of our stakeholders as he comes to us with a proven track record of creating value,” said John Mutch, chairman of the board of directors at Aviat Networks. “He brings vast operational, business development and M&A experience, which the board believes is highly complementary, and will blend very well with the talent we have assembled. This is critical as we are moving into an expected period of growth and improved profitability, while concurrently looking at all avenues that will drive a new cycle of value creation."
Smith previously held positions such as senior vice president of US Windows and Canada for Jeld-Wen. Prior to this he served as president of Polypore International's Transportation and Industrial segment as well as chief executive officer and a director of Voltaix Inc. In addition, he tenured several senior leadership roles at Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies including Cooper Industries (wireless business), Dover Knowles Electronics (semiconductor components business) and Honeywell Specialty Materials (display business).
"I am very excited to join Aviat and truly looking forward to working with Stan, the leadership team and our talented employees, as we seek to grow our business and enhance our competitive position," Smith commented. "The company has a strong brand and the trust of its customers, innovative and differentiated solutions, and is entering a phase of anticipated growth. It is my goal to support the team in its execution of operational excellence programs, while leveraging my skillsets to enhance our platform further, potentially expand into new business areas or markets, and ultimately, lead to a stronger offering for our customers and greater value for our shareholders."
