Fink Brings Deep Systems and Memory-Driven Computing Expertise to Help Accelerate the Ongoing Transformation of Western Digital

Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC), a world leader in storage technologies and solutions, today announced the appointment of Martin Fink to the position of chief technology officer (CTO). Fink most recently served as CTO and director of HP Labs at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. In his new role, Fink will report to Steve Milligan, chief executive officer, and lead Western Digital’s technology innovation agenda as the company continues to transform its business and expand its capabilities and technology portfolio. Fink succeeds CTO Steven Campbell who will depart the company to pursue other opportunities after a long and distinguished career with Western Digital.

Fink worked in a wide range of business and technology leadership roles during his 30-year career at HP/HPE. Prior to being named CTO and director of HP Labs at HPE in 2012, he was senior vice president and general manager of Business Critical Systems (BCS) for HP’s Enterprise, Storage and Servers (ESS) business unit. He previously led HP’s Open Source and Linux Organization and the NonStop Enterprise Division. Fink is listed as co-inventor on two patents related to online e-commerce and is a graduate of Loyalist College in Ontario, Canada, where he studied electronics engineering. Fink also holds an MBA from Colorado State University.

In 2015, HPE and SanDisk launched a partnership to collaborate on a new technology within the Storage Class Memory (SCM) category. SCM represents a new category of semiconductor memories that are expected to develop a new paradigm of computing solutions targeted at data-rich environments. They offer significant advantages in memory access speed and latency, non-volatility, and cost compared to today’s near memory components. Fink, who was the technology executive who led this effort at HPE, has been a champion of SCM for several years.

“Martin is a respected technologist who will play an important, strategic role in the ongoing growth and transformation of Western Digital,” said Steve Milligan, chief executive officer, Western Digital. “He has been a leading voice on the value and promise of memory-driven computing and will lead our continued innovation focus areas, including the commercialization of Storage Class Memory solutions.”

Steven Campbell was appointed EVP and CTO of Western Digital in November 2015. Campbell previously served as CTO of HGST and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, following a six-year tenure in Singapore as CEO of Magnecomp. He has been a key part of the leadership team executing a multi-year transformation strategy designed to expand Western Digital’s position in a rapidly evolving storage industry. Campbell played an important role in the acquisition of SanDisk and in building the company’s technology capability and storage solutions portfolio.

About Western Digital

Western Digital is an industry-leading provider of storage technologies and solutions that enable people to create, leverage, experience and preserve data. The company addresses ever-changing market needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling, high-quality storage solutions with customer-focused innovation, high efficiency, flexibility and speed. Our products are marketed under the HGST, SanDisk and WD brands to OEMs, distributors, resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. Financial and investor information is available on the company’s Investor Relations website at investor.wdc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the new CTO’s role and the company’s transformation and expansion of its portfolio and capabilities. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate including, among others: volatility in global economic conditions; business conditions and growth in the storage ecosystem; impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance and cost of commodity materials and specialized product components; actions by competitors; unexpected advances in competing technologies; our development and introduction of products based on new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the company’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on Nov. 8, 2016, to which your attention is directed. The company undertakes no obligation to update the information in this release in the event facts or circumstances change after the date of this release.

Western Digital, WD, the HGST logo, SanDisk and G-Technology are registered trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners.

Western Digital Corp.Media Contact:Jim Pascoe, 408-717-6999jim.pascoe@wdc.comorInvestor Contact:Bob Blair, 949-672-7834robert.blair@wdc.com

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