YAVNE , ISRAEL — Ofer Shofman, president and CEO of Valor Computerized Systems has announced his retirement from the company. The company's board of directors has appointed Dan Hoz as acting president and CEO.

“I had the privilege of watching the company grow, and I strongly believe that it has a prosperous future ahead. I feel that now it’s time to refocus my energy on my family and personal projects,” said Shofman.

Shofman is one of the founders of Valor, and has been with the company for more than fifteen years, with six as president and CEO. Hoz has been the company’s CFO for five years, and before that served four years as CFO of Frontline PCB Solutions.

MUNICH, GERMANY and WESTFORD, MA – Zuken has announced a partnership to provide schematic capture and PCB design to MBDA European Missile Systems, an organization which has programs in missile systems and countermeasures and manages multi-national defense projects.

The designs centers of MBDA originated from the EADS, BAE Systems and Finmeccanica, and Zuken’s schematic and PCB design software was selected to standardize a single platform across Europe.

Andy Inkersole, from MBDA commented: "Zuken proved with CR-5000 and E³.cable that they could cost effectively deliver the full harmonization within our current environment, while offering flexibility and technical competence."

The initial five-year agreement with MBDA will begin by moving all PCB design, schematic capture and electrical design to Zuken's modular PCB design software, CR-5000 and E³.cable. The first phase will begin with implementation in France and the UK, before being incorporated in Italy and Germany.

FREMONT, CA - Circuit prototyping system manufacturer SchmartBoard, Inc. has retained Wyndstorm Corp. to create an online community and training venue for electronics enthusiasts. The website is scheduled to launch in September 2008.

"While social media for online gaming or social networking can be lots of fun, applying these technologies to collaborative online learning…can demonstrate bottom-line results," said Marian Sabety, president of Wyndstorm. 

Wyndstorm will develop an online environment allowing electronics enthusiasts, instructors, students and professionals to discuss electronics topics and circuit design in online forums, and to provide reviews and ratings of individual circuit designs, manage event calendars, and allow members to create circuit design libraries.

Wyndstorm will also provide an online circuit design and construction feature, allowing students and teachers to work collaboratively to specify the components and construction of circuit boards. 

“SchmartBoard is committed to helping engineers, students, and hobbyists develop electronic circuits faster, easier, and less expensively than previously possible,” said Neal Greenberg, VP of SchmartBoard.

WILSONVILLE, OR ― Mentor Graphics Corp. announced first quarter fiscal 2009 revenue of $179.2 million.

“In a difficult environment, the company performed as we forecast,” said Walden C. Rhines, company CEO.

“During the quarter, we extended our cost management efforts,” said Gregory K. Hinckley, company president. “Looking forward, we continue to see a strong second half driven by renewals.”

The company has reported that for fiscal year 2009, the company expects revenue of approximately $915 million.  For the fiscal second quarter, the company expects revenue of about $173 million.