GigOptix LLC of Palo Alto, Calif., a maker of high-speed circuits for optical communications and storage systems, announced that Jozef Straus will chair its newly formed advisory board. Strauss co-founded JDS Fitel in 1981, and was instrumental in its merger with Uniphase Corp. in 1999, which ultimately became JDS Uniphase Corp., (JDSU). After retiring in August 2003 as JDSU CEO, Straus held the role of founder emeritus until Dec. 31, 2005. Prior to JDS Fitel, Straus held various research and management positions with Bell Northern Research and Nortel.