While Collins brought his entrepreneurial flair and innovation background to the table, d'Arbeloff offered more nuts-and-bolts business experience. D' Arbeloff had a long and successful career at Teradyne, a Boston-based test equipment manufacturing and service company. There he held a series of management positions, including leadership of one of the company's largest product groups. (d'Arbelofif's brother, Alex, was the founder and long-time CEO of Teradyne ). D'Arbeloff, who became BIG's chairman in October 2000, met Collins through his wife. He remarked, "Mike and I kind of hit it off. And, as it turns out, we complement each other. I've run a large company. I'm interested in business problems. I'm good at executive-to-executive relationships and have negotiated lots of contracts. Mike pushes me and I contain Mike."