The Open Grid Forum provides an open forum for grid innovation and the development of open standards for grid software interoperability. As an open standards organization, OGF collaborates with other standards development organizations to align with existing industry standards and develop new specifications to enable grid software interoperability.

"Chris Smith has a reputation as a well respected technologist with extensive industry experience both inside and outside the grid community," said Mark Linesch, President of OGF and Vice President of Hewlett-Packard. "As someone who has championed the adoption of grid computing, we look forward to him continuing his work at OGF in this new leadership position."

A long time member of the Open Grid Forum, Mr. Smith will now be overseeing a large and important function within OGF as the new Vice President of Standards. He will be responsible for leading the development of architecture, specifications, roadmaps, and related activities associated with the standardization and interoperability of grid software. In addition, he will also act as a liaison between the grid community and the larger computing industry to increase awareness and understanding of grid computing and its applications.

"It is vital that users of grid technology reach out to external stakeholders in a variety of industries and I look forward to utilizing my experience at Platform Computing to help OGF achieve this goal," said Chris Smith, Vice President of Standards, Open Grid Forum. "I also hope to build on the work myself and others have begun at OGF to promote the standards that provide us with the interoperability needed to ease grid adoption."

"I would like to congratulate Chris on his appointment as Vice President of Standards at the Open Grid Forum," said Jingwen Wang, Vice President of Products of Platform Computing. "The development of standards is a cornerstone upon which the grid community and computing industry at large has been buen built. Few are better suited or experienced than Chris Smith to shape and influence the ongoing direction of grid standardization."

Platform Computing is one of the original board members of the OGF and has been a leader in and supporter of standards in the grid space of the Global Grid Forum since its inception. In addition to participating in the development of specifications such as JSDL, OGSA-BES and the HPC Profile, Platform has been taking active leadership roles in the Grid Forum Steering Group, Marketing Committee and the OGF board.