Alpha Industries Announces New President; - DavidAldrich Elected President and Chief...

WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1999--

- CEO Tom Leonard Named Vice Chairman

Alpha Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq symbol:AHAA) today announced that David Aldrich has been elected as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, at a meeting of the Company's board

of Directors today. Mr. Aldrich, 42, was Executive Vice President and General Manager of Alpha's Wireless Semiconductor operations. He will report to Tom Leonard, 64, who was re-elected as Chief Executive Officer and was also named Vice Chairman. As President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Aldrich will oversee all operations of Alpha, which has a workforce of 950 employees, located at the Company's semiconductor facility in Woburn, Massachusetts and its ceramics subsidiary in Adamstown, Maryland.

George Kariotis, Chairman of Alpha's Board of Directors, stated, "Alpha is in excellent hands with Tom Leonard and Dave Aldrich. They make a terrific team. Dave will now take on an expanded role, directing all of Alpha's operations and working with Tom on strategic initiatives, including acquisitions and positioning Alpha for the future. Tom has done an extraordinary job in turning Alpha around, creating shareholder value and leading the Company into its next phase of growth. I speak for the entire Board when I say that Alpha has the management to carry us into the 21st Century."

CEO Tom Leonard stated, "Dave Aldrich has done an outstanding job at Alpha since he joined us in 1995. He has reshaped Alpha into a world-class wireless semiconductor manufacturer and a successful, dynamic company. I recommended Dave for this expanded role, and I am pleased and excited that all of Alpha will now benefit from his vision, drive and ability."

David Aldrich, Alpha's new President and COO, stated, "Alpha is well-positioned to capture additional market share with our gallium arsenide ICs in the dynamic wireless voice and data markets. We have the right products, the right processes, and the right people to continue our strong growth. I appreciate the support of Tom and the entire Board, and I am eager to work with everyone at Alpha to make it an even better company."

Under Mr. Aldrich's leadership, Alpha's Wireless Semiconductor operations have become the Company's primary engine. Sales in this sector have climbed over 55% in the last two years, through focused expansion of Alpha's business with leading wireless telephone handset OEMs, such as Motorola and Ericsson, and through development of key OEM customers in new wireless data applications, such as 3Com's Palm(TM) VII Connected Organizer.

Prior to joining Alpha, Mr. Aldrich held a number of management positions with Adams Russell and M/A-COM, the last as head of M/A-COM's Integrated Circuits Active Products business. He received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Providence College in 1978 and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island in 1981.

Alpha Industries designs and manufactures a broad range of products for microwave and radio frequency wireless communications applications. The Wireless Semiconductor segment provides gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuits and other semiconductors to the dynamic global market for wireless telephone handsets. The Application Specific Products (ASP) segment provides a broad range of GaAs and silicon devices to satellite, instrumentation, defense and other communications markets. The Ceramic Products segment provides technical ceramic products for wireless telephony infrastructure and other wireless markets. Additional information is available at Alpha's website - www.alphaind.com.

Safe Harbor Statement - Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that constitute the Company's current intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectation or predictions of the future which are, therefore, inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the Company's forward-looking statements based on various factors, including without limitation: cancellation or deferral of customer orders, dependence on a small number of large customers, difficulties in the timely development and market acceptance of new products, market developments that vary from the current public expectations concerning the growth of wireless communications, difficulties in manufacturing new or existing products in sufficient quantity or quality, increased competitive pressures, decreasing selling prices for the Company's products, or changes in economic conditions. Further information on factors that could affect the Company's performance is included in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including but not limited to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended March 28, 1999, and subsequent Forms 10-Q. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstance on which any such statement is based.