Tech Bytes: Nortel Spinoff Picks Texas for Headquarters

Entrust Technologies Inc., a data encryption product company established by Northern Telecom of Canada, has chosen Richardson, Tex., as its North American headquarters.

"Since the early 1990s, Texas has led the nation in high-tech employment and growth," said president and chief executive officer John Ryan. "We want to be a part of this emerging high-tech center," which he noted is "centrally located and accessible for major customers and industry partners."

Entrust said it has experienced "exceptional growth" since it was spun out of Northern Telecom in January. It has opened several offices, moved its Canadian headquarters in Ottawa to a bigger facility, and recently added two key executives - Rick Spurr as vice president of worldwide sales and Terry Schoen as managing director of European operations, based in London.

Nortel still owns a majority interest in Entrust, with other investors including Olympus Partners, J.P. Morgan Investment Management, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.