Brian Toohey takes office as president of the Semiconductor Industry Association

SAN JOSE, USA: Brian C. Toohey took office today as president of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). Toohey, 42, succeeds George Scalise, who has led the association since 1997. SIA is the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry, America’s number-one export industry over the past five years.

“No industry has done more to advance the frontiers of science and technology than the US semiconductor industry,” said Toohey.

“For more than 60 years, leadership in technology has been the foundation for enhancing the productivity of American workers, driving economic growth, enabling advances in medical science and health care, improving our standard of living, and ensuring national security. It is a great honor to succeed George Scalise as president of the association representing this industry. We will continue to advocate policies and programs to maintain and expand US leadership in semiconductors.”

George Scalise will remain with SIA as president emeritus through the end of the year. “It has been a great privilege to serve as president during a period of enormous change and challenge,” said Scalise.

“Today, the industry is at the threshold of another major transformation as we approach the scaling limits of CMOS technology. The global arena has become more competitive and consequently there are new challenges to our leadership as we make the transition to the Nanoelectronics Era. I wish Brian Toohey well as takes on his new assignment,” Scalise concluded.

Prior to joining SIA, Toohey served as senior vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). He has also held senior management positions at DEKA R&D Corp., AirCell, Inc., and the US Department of Commerce.

SIA will complete a relocation of its headquarters from San Jose, California, to Washington DC in September.