ESI Announces Hiring of Steve Harris as Vice Presi

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESIO ), an innovator in laser-based manufacturing solutions for the micro-machining industry, today announced that Steve Harris has joined the company as Vice President of Engineering, effective February 10.

Mr. Harris is a proven executive who brings over 30 years of engineering, engineering management and business management experience to ESI. Mr. Harris spent the past seven years at Cascade Microtech where he served as Vice President of Engineering, and as VP & General Manager. Prior to joining Cascade Microtech, Mr. Harris worked 11 years at ESI where he held the role of Vice President of Research, Development & Engineering and was a Division General Manager. Mr. Harris spent the first 13 years of his career at Tektronix in development engineering, program management, and engineering management roles.

“We are very excited to welcome Steve back to ESI,” stated Michael Burger, CEO of ESI. “Throughout his career Steve has focused on the development of innovative technologies that drive advanced solutions and capabilities. He will oversee all research, product development, and engineering functions within the company, and will be responsible for focusing our technical talent on the most promising and urgent development projects.”

About ESI, Inc. ESI's integrated solutions allow industrial designers and process engineers to control the power of laser light to transform materials in ways that differentiate their consumer electronics, wearable devices, semiconductor circuits and high-precision components for market advantage. ESI's laser-based manufacturing solutions feature the micro-machining industry's highest precision and speed, and target the lowest total cost of ownership. ESI is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with global operations and subsidiaries in Asia, Europe and North America. More information is available at www.esi.com .

Brian Smith ESI 503-672-5760 smithb@esi.com