August 16, 2006 – Brooks Automation Inc. has appointed Robert Lepofsky, formerly chairman/CEO of Helix Technology Corp., as its next CEO following Ed Grady’s scheduled retirement next month.

Lepofsky led Helix from 1989 until late 2004, and joined Brooks as a board member in Oct. 2005 when Brooks bought the systems manufacturer in a $454M deal. Since January 2005 Lepofsky has been president/CEO of privately held Ensign-Bickford Industries, a group with businesses ranging from ordinance systems for military/aerospace to real estate development to making pet foods more “palatable.”

“As a director of Brooks and the former CEO of Helix, Bob can step in without missing a beat as we continue to move the company forward,” noted company chairman Joe Martin, in a statement. He also praised Grady’s leadership over the past five years “as we faced numerous challenges and some very difficult times,” including restructuring that included the Helix deal and carving out its fab software business in a sale to Applied Materials, as well as being at the center of the controversy over stock options backdating.

“As a Brooks director I have seen first hand the progress the company has made in recent years, and I look forward to helping the Company take the next steps forward,” Lepofsky added.