Mr. Karlson, since his retirement in 1993 as Chairman and a director of Spectra-Physics AB, provided consulting services to a variety of businesses and has acted as a private investor in both mature and development stage companies. In 1983 Mr. Karlson formed Nobel Electronics, an autonomous business unit of AB Bofors, which manufactured instrumentation for the polymer processing and weighing and force measurement and position control industries. Nobel Electronics merged with Pharos AB, a company traded on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, of which Mr. Karlson became President and Chief Executive Officer. As a result of certain consolidation transactions, Mr. Karlson became Chairman and a director of Spectra AB in 1990, whose business focused on niche oriented, high technology companies specializing in lasers, opto-electronic instruments and microwave transmission. Aggregate sales for the Spectra-Physics AB group of companies exceeded $685 million in 1990. Prior to forming Nobel Electronics, Mr. Karlson held various positions with Fisher & Porter Company commencing in 1965 and was appointed President in 1981. Mr. Karlson received a Master degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Karlson is also a director of CDI Corp., a New York Stock Exchange listed professional services and outsourcing company. |