Seagate promotes Joseph Spafford to vice president of engineering, Thailand recording head operations

Business Wire, Nov 1, 1994

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 1994--Seagate Technology, Inc. today announced the promotion of Joseph Spafford to vice president, Recording Head Engineering for the Company's Component Operations in Thailand. Spafford brings 30 years of engineering and quality manufacturing experience to his new position where he will manage the process and manufacturing engineering functions for Head Gimbal Assembly operations.

"Seagate's commitment to the development of its component operations is critical to our leadership position in the disc drive industry," said Brendan Hegarty, Seagate's senior vice president and chief technical officer, Components. "Joe Spafford brings to the position a tremendous amount of experience and expertise in recording head technology, and he has continued to be a major contributor to our success in this business."

Spafford joined the Seagate organization in 1989 through its acquisition of Control Data's disc drive business. His computer engineering career began with Control Data Corporation in 1964, following his graduation from North Dakota State University with a BSEE degree. In the early years with Control Data, Spafford held many management positions in the computer, terminals and peripheral divisions in the company's engineering, quality and manufacturing organizations.

In 1977, Spafford shifted his focus to the magnetic recording field. His first assignment was manager of manufacturing engineering at the Aberdeen, South Dakota facility, which was responsible for ferrite head arm assembly.

Over the next several years, Spafford held a variety of positions, including director for Normandale HGA Manufacturing and Worldwide HGA Operations Support, thin film head plant director in Normandale, and director of the company's Aberdeen facility.

Following Seagate's acquisition of Control Data's data storage subsidiary, Spafford was promoted to senior director and was responsible for test, tooling, continuation engineering and program management.

Seagate Technology is a leading independent designer, manufacturer and marketer of data storage products and components for the computer systems and data technology industries. The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol: SGAT.

CONTACT: Seagate Technology, Inc., Scotts Valley

Julie A. Still, 408/439-2276