David French
Mr. French's career has been built around a very broad set of experiences in virtually all aspects of research, design, manufacturing, marketing and business management within the semiconductor industry. He is perhaps best known for his nearly twenty year focus on the proliferation of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology and solutions in leading successful initiatives at Texas Instruments and later Analog Devices. In addition, he spearheaded the transition of Cirrus Logic's business as its CEO, from a supplier of logic chips into personal computers to become a profitable industry leader in mixed signal audio components and solutions. More recently Mr. French contributed to the financial success of NXP Semiconductors as Executive Vice President of its Mobile and Computing Business Unit and later working on numerous fruitful business divestitures in China. He has demonstrated a constant emphasis on coaching and development of some of the industry's leading technologists as they have brought their ideas from early formulation to dramatic growth and financial success. A recurring theme in his success has grown out of the identification and implementation of fabrication process optimization ideas to drive the achievement of higher levels of product performance at lower cost in communication, audio, media and automotive applications. With a longstanding presence since 2001 in the China semiconductor marketplace as an investor, advisor, hands on manager and board director, he has recently launched Gaozhan Microelectronics Management Consulting Company there. One of his most recent projects has been to introduce a technology development and incubation center in China with an early focus on semiconductors for power electronics applications.