GLOBALFOUNDRIES CEO Ajit Manocha elected chairman of SIA

USA: The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing US leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, announced that the SIA Board of Directors has elected GLOBALFOUNDRIES CEO Ajit Manocha as its 2013 chairman and Dr. John E. Kelly III, IBM senior vice president and director of IBM Research, as its 2013 vice chairman.

“Ajit Manocha has proved to be a tremendous asset to GLOBALFOUNDRIES and the overall US semiconductor industry,” said Brian Toohey, SIA president and CEO. “Ajit’s outstanding technical background and extensive industry experience make him the ideal leader to serve as 2013 SIA chairman and to help ensure that the semiconductor industry continues to create jobs, drive economic growth and build a better future for our country.”

Since taking over as CEO in 2011, Manocha has led GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ efforts to fundamentally restructure the landscape of the semiconductor foundry industry through a collaborative approach to both technology development and customer engagement.

Under Manocha’s leadership, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is now the fastest growing semiconductor company in the world, according to industry analyst IC Insights. Manocha began his career as a research scientist and was granted over a dozen U.S. and international patents for several inventions in the field of microelectronics.

Before joining GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Manocha served as executive VP of worldwide operations and a member of the executive management board at Spansion.

Dr. Kelly joined IBM in 1980 and now directs the worldwide operations of IBM Research – with approximately 3,000 scientists and technical employees at 12 laboratories in 10 countries around the world – and helps guide IBM’s overall technical strategy. His top priorities include encouraging innovation in key areas of information technology and quickly bringing those innovations into the marketplace to sustain and grow IBM’s existing business.

Dr. Kelly also leads worldwide intellectual property efforts for IBM, which generated a record 6,180 US patents in 2011 – the 19th consecutive year IBM has led the world in receiving U.S. patents. Before assuming his current position in 2007, Dr. Kelly was senior vice president of technology and intellectual property, responsible for IBM’s technical and innovation strategies.

“Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Kelly has successfully led efforts to promote innovation and protect intellectual property – two of the key issues that drive the American semiconductor industry and the overall US economy,” said Toohey. “We’re grateful for his service to the semiconductor industry and look forward to his leadership as 2013 SIA vice chairman.”

“I’m honored to serve as SIA’s 2013 chairman and look forward to working with semiconductor colleagues and government leaders to build on our industry’s recent successes,” said Manocha. “Through hard work and ingenuity, the US semiconductor industry has helped improve our lives, strengthen our country and build a brighter future. Working together, we will ensure that our industry takes the next step forward.”

“It’s a privilege to serve as 2013 SIA vice chairman,” said Kelly. “We’ve come a long way as an industry, but our greatest potential lies ahead. I look forward to advocating for effective government policies that strengthen the US semiconductor industry by promoting American competitiveness and removing barriers to innovation.”