GSA announces 2012 board of director election results

SAN JOSE, USA: The Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA), the voice of the global semiconductor industry, announced the results of its 2012 Board of Directors election. GSA’s board is comprised of industry executives who are representative of the global regions in which GSA holds active memberships. The majority of the board members are selected by the Alliance’s voting members.

This year, there were six positions available for election to GSA’s Board of Directors, including five semiconductor (fabless and IDM) positions and one value chain producer (VCP) position.

The newly elected semiconductor director is Ralph Schmitt, president and chief executive officer of PLX Technology Inc. Ralph currently serves as the GSA Emerging Company CEO Council chairman and has been instrumental in the formation of the Capital Lite Working Group whose primary focus is helping new semiconductor start-ups reduce costs, raise equity financing and improve their chance of success by providing new business models, partnerships and tools.

Ralph Schmitt was appointed president and chief executive officer of PLX Technology, Inc. in November 2008. Prior to PLX, he was also CEO of semiconductor companies Legend Silicon, Exar Corp. and Sipex Corp.

“It is an honor to join the board of the GSA and contribute to its leadership mission of fostering the semiconductor industry,” said Ralph Schmitt, president and CEO, PLX. “My rewarding experience as chairman of the GSA’s Emerging Company CEO Council led me to pursue the opportunity and I look forward to this expanded role. I have a real passion to see our industry thrive and foster new opportunities for growth. The GSA has a significant impact in making this a reality.”

Re-elected semiconductor directors include Danny Biran, senior VP, corporate strategy, Altera; Mark Ireland, VP, semiconductor platforms, IBM; Neil Kim, executive VP, operations and central engineering, Broadcom; and Deborah Shoquist, executive VP of operations, NVIDIA. Each one of them will serve a three-year term.

Jack Harding, chairman, president and CEO of eSilicon Corp. was re-elected to represent the value chain producer (VCP) position for another two-year term. He also serves on the GSA Finance Committee.

“We welcome our new and returning 2012 directors and are pleased to have such a bright group of global leaders who offer their knowledge and leadership to contribute to GSA’s mission and vision,” stated Jodi Shelton, co-founder and president of GSA. “Their dedication and commitment to GSA puts us in the position to address the challenges of the global semiconductor industry.”

In its 18 years, the GSA has consistently broadened its global representation that consists of a membership base spanning large multinational corporations to start-up companies in their initial funding phase. Geographically, the GSA represents every major region within the semiconductor industry. The Alliance has strategically expanded its international presence in the EMEA and Asia regions through appointed regional board members, regional partnerships and global market intelligence initiatives.