He will serve until the next election of directors as an independent director at the annual meeting of shareholders, expected to be in late April 2004.
Gupta maintains an independent management consulting practice, after a career with Phillips Petroleum Company, now ConocoPhillips, where he most-recently served as vice president and strategic planning officer.
He also currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Yukos Oil Corporation, Moscow, Russia; as an advisory board member for Preng & Associates; and as a member of the advisory council for industrial and systems engineering for Kansas State University.
Gupta received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Birla Engineering College, Anand, India; and a master's degree in industrial engineering and management science from Kansas State University.
