News & Analysis
10 CEOs who made a difference in 2010
12/13/2010 12:01 AM EST
Vij mobilizes for a reenergized MIPS
When a company is struggling, the dreaded CEO change is a move of last resort that doesn't guarantee a successful makeover. But MIPS Technologies' strong comeback this year in the highly competitive processor IP market traces directly to Sandeep Vij's installation at the helm in January. MIPS' revenue grew by 50 percent, to $22.5 million, in the September-ended fiscal first quarter compared with the year-ago period. Revenue from royalties increased 40 percent, to $13.6 million; licensing revenue soared 71 percent, to $8.9 million.
Developments afoot at MIPS before Vij's arrival included the company's early jump on Android, its development of the M14K core in China and its first forays into the mobile baseband and app processor markets. Work on Android began a few years back as a skunk works at MIPS; the M14K core development was initiated by a senior engineering leader who returned to Shanghai. But MIPS' move into the mobile market was still viewed as somewhat suspect.
Vij brought much-needed support to virtually every risk in the pipeline. He created a believable road map for MIPS' resurgence, not only in the digital home and networking markets but also in the mobile space, in a bid to reenergize the customer base. MIPS has identified several "mobile chip licensees"; they include Altair, Beceem, Mavrix, Sequans, Wintegra and an unidentified "anchor" licensee, based in Asia, that MIPS claims to have wooed away from ARM.
It may be a few more years before MIPS poses a real threat to ARM in mobile, but given its progress under Vij, the notion is no longer folly.
— Junko Yoshida
When a company is struggling, the dreaded CEO change is a move of last resort that doesn't guarantee a successful makeover. But MIPS Technologies' strong comeback this year in the highly competitive processor IP market traces directly to Sandeep Vij's installation at the helm in January. MIPS' revenue grew by 50 percent, to $22.5 million, in the September-ended fiscal first quarter compared with the year-ago period. Revenue from royalties increased 40 percent, to $13.6 million; licensing revenue soared 71 percent, to $8.9 million.
Developments afoot at MIPS before Vij's arrival included the company's early jump on Android, its development of the M14K core in China and its first forays into the mobile baseband and app processor markets. Work on Android began a few years back as a skunk works at MIPS; the M14K core development was initiated by a senior engineering leader who returned to Shanghai. But MIPS' move into the mobile market was still viewed as somewhat suspect.
Vij brought much-needed support to virtually every risk in the pipeline. He created a believable road map for MIPS' resurgence, not only in the digital home and networking markets but also in the mobile space, in a bid to reenergize the customer base. MIPS has identified several "mobile chip licensees"; they include Altair, Beceem, Mavrix, Sequans, Wintegra and an unidentified "anchor" licensee, based in Asia, that MIPS claims to have wooed away from ARM.
It may be a few more years before MIPS poses a real threat to ARM in mobile, but given its progress under Vij, the notion is no longer folly.
— Junko Yoshida
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dylan.mcgrath
12/13/2010 12:19 AM EST
Whose on your list of best CEOs in 2010?
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will99878898
12/13/2010 3:39 AM EST
You guys need to pay attention to china's Huawei 's CEO. He should be listed some time.
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eewiz
12/13/2010 9:02 AM EST
Steve Jobs not in here!! The list fails.
He reinvented the tablet form factor in 2010. Many of the above CEOs makes a living because of him.
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nicolas.mokhoff
12/13/2010 10:36 AM EST
You could make the argument that while Steve Jobs brought the iPad to fruition and changed the portable computer landscape, it is the enabling technologies from the companies on the list that contribute to Steve Jobs' and many other system companies' success.
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Patk0317
12/17/2010 1:01 AM EST
I believe Apple designed it's own solution with the A4 processor in iPad, so I do not think thes other company's enabled Apple's success to the extent that you state.
Job's should be on the list - some of these companies would definitely be less profitable w/o Apple's biz and therefore their CEOs may not have made the list.
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elctrnx_lyf
12/13/2010 12:45 PM EST
I think this list only considering the CEO's semiconductor companies except the case of motorola and foxconn. Don't we have any other people from OEM companies making it to this list?
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dylan.mcgrath
12/13/2010 1:18 PM EST
Our list is admittedly semiconductor heavy because of the nature of our publication. Also, this list is not comprehensive, nor is it the final word on the subject. We came up with 10 CEOs we thought ought to be recognized, but many others could have been included on this list, including those suggested by readers above. We encourage anyone and everyone to name other CEOs whose performance in 2010 arguably could have merited their inclusion.
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steven_sh
12/13/2010 4:48 PM EST
Foxconn has many workers suicide this year, this alone will disqualified Mr. Guo from this list.
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Hughston
12/15/2010 5:12 PM EST
That company needs a better safety net for its workers.
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yalanand
12/18/2010 6:55 AM EST
Surprised to see Foxconn in this list and not Apple !
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kiomars
12/13/2010 5:03 PM EST
This list is heavily biased, without Steve Job who really changed the industry and our way of life
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Warren
12/13/2010 5:19 PM EST
Made a difference in 2010? I'd of included Paul Otellini (Intel Corporation); the breadth and depth and scale of what he executes upon is phenominal. Admittedly not “fighting for [corporate] survival” but there’s been plenty of “hunkering down” in the midst of a tremendous industry downturn.
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Code Monkey
12/13/2010 5:25 PM EST
Don't forget NXP's Rick Clemmer, who re-focused NXP at the "High Performance Mixed Signal" business.
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Baolt
12/21/2010 8:29 PM EST
Yeah, who cutted down capacity of company, lost huge business share due to fact of spin offs, no need to talk about depts and created a hocus pocus, ta daa we have new term in the market. I am sorry but Rick Clemmers talent is still premature, in 2011 we would see what NXPs shape will look like after can talk about him...not? :)
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Rain Three
12/14/2010 1:07 AM EST
Motorola mobile made a good recover, while we shouldn't miss Steven Jobs.
In semiconductor, let's look at NXP's Rick Clemmer, who is reshaping the company.
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goafrit
12/14/2010 11:00 AM EST
This is a wishy list. Where is Jobs? I mean this list is not elegant.
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danlutes
12/14/2010 12:42 PM EST
The article title is CEO's who made a difference. I don't see an explanation of how Gou of Foxconn made a difference, or even much explanation of what he personally did, much less the impact his actions had.
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Cavium Lover
12/14/2010 1:55 PM EST
sandeep vij? that's gotto be in the top 10 jokes of the year. considering no Steve Jobs. mips is a dead business.
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Frank Eory
12/14/2010 3:22 PM EST
The list should include Aart de Geus. Synopsys has been buying up IP companies left and right, establishing the model for a new era in the EDA industry and in how SoCs are developed.
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Sheetal.Pandey
12/14/2010 11:45 PM EST
I would include Intel and Apple in the list. Wonder what made Foxconn on the list.
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minghao
12/15/2010 6:24 AM EST
No.10 Guo's notable job in 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/27/foxconn-suicide-tenth-iphone-china
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danlutes
12/15/2010 4:19 PM EST
I understand that Foxconn is newsworthy, but the article fails to explain whether Gou lead his company through the crisis or simply stood there and reacted to events around him.
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minghao
12/17/2010 5:17 AM EST
Standing above 18 employees' blooding body regardless their race, gender, age or nationality? (please bear in your mind, 18 is jsut the official reported number)
Half centry ago, Adolf Hitler did that to Jewish people,
30 years ago Mr Mao did that to chinese,
Today, Mr Guo did the same to Foxconn's employees.
Tomorrow who is going to be the next turn?
Humanity, it should not be ignored by semiconductor industry.
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PRKU
12/15/2010 1:15 PM EST
The list should include Cypress semi CEO T.J.Rodgers who has doubled the companies value in 2010.
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Patk0317
12/17/2010 1:03 AM EST
Agreed - stock has gone from ~$3 to ~$18 in two years!
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Znadfski
12/16/2010 4:32 AM EST
Perfect list , congratulations !!!!
It is also historical, since EETimes for the first time recognizes Mr. Laub and Atmel in a positive way.
Is it the begining of a new era ?
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Fast14
12/16/2010 4:47 AM EST
Steve Jobs did nothing to enhance the semiconductor space other than buy chips. The point of Apple is consumer products not semiconductors. I am a huge Apple user but Steve just doesn't 'apply' for inclusion on this list.
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KB3001
12/16/2010 8:16 AM EST
I beg to differ. His innovative products have boosted the sales of many semiconductor companies. Apple also have their own processors. In any case, if Motorola's CEO is there, then Steve Jobs should be there too IMHO.
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wilber_xbox
12/16/2010 6:47 PM EST
The list does not include CEO of any startup/young company which is disappointing.
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Patk0317
12/17/2010 1:04 AM EST
Himanshu,
Which start-ups would you select who's CEOs "made a difference" in 2010?
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wilber_xbox
12/17/2010 4:34 AM EST
@Patk0317, every year peter clarke publish a (updated)list of 60 emerging startups. The latest list is:
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4210527/EE-Times-updates--Silicon-60--list-of-emerging-startups?pageNumber=0
I have not been following the growth of any of these companies but i expect a mention of those companies which have either been acquired by big companies and are fueling their growth or been able to raise a substantial investment.
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eewiz
12/17/2010 7:47 AM EST
There are some very promising startups in the list . But none of the companies/CEOs listed has made a serious impact in year 2010.
And probably the only decent acquisition in semi space last year was of Beceem by Broadcom but they doesnt have anything special in 2010. Looking at it, its kinda sad that a 18 month old internet startup like Groupon is valued at 6B and 5-10 year old semi companies sell(if lucky)for 50-100m$.
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Sheetal.Pandey
12/17/2010 4:21 PM EST
Well start ups have there own share of problems,targets and results. I guess its always better to compare startups among themselves like List of best CEOs among start ups. It would be unfair for startups to compare with companies that have been established for long. Imagine comparing a startup with Motorola or freescale or Atmel or any other with satble market revenues and profitability.
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yalanand
12/18/2010 6:57 AM EST
Two names I would like to recommend is
1) Cosmic circuits : http://www.cosmiccircuits.com/
2) Saankhya Labs :
http://www.saankhyalabs.com/
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MAVERICK23
12/18/2010 2:06 AM EST
Foxxcon in the list makes the list unbalanced and like fellow "eetians" I too feel Steve Jobs should have made the list for sure. But having said that Yasushi of Renesas and Warren of ARM are worthy in that list.
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Charles.Desassure
12/19/2010 3:37 PM EST
Thanks for this article. I know how many of people feel about Steve Jobs. But we need to judge the CEO based on what they have accomplished and the immediate impact that they have on society. There’s no question that Steve Jobs, what he did in 2010, should have been on this list. I have to strongly agree with many of the others readers comments; this is not a good list. Many readers will read this list, and delete it from their memory. What does that tell you, it’s a bad list?
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resistion
12/19/2010 9:26 PM EST
I would have Samsung and Apple on the list due to their influence in 2010. These others don't leave much of an impression.
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p_g
12/20/2010 4:52 AM EST
I agree that without Steve this list is incomplete, but I would like to ask author, can they list of criteria based on which he formulated the list and how were these CEO's ranked?
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GREAT-Terry
12/20/2010 11:53 AM EST
I think the author should state the criteria why the people are picked. I believe there are many respectful CEO around but who should the market or industry pay attention very much depend on what view point you're looking at.
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Baolt
12/21/2010 8:37 PM EST
No doubt about Steve jobs, he should be in the list, but c'mon guys, he is already know ww and dominating all known lists.
Why there is nobody from Korea, Samsung's ceo Geesung Choi who is leading his company to top of semicon list, LG new Ceo Koo Bon-joon who is battling hard to get back into business, with success in very short time.
And also where is Doug Grose Ceo of Global foundries, who let his company to win big market share in '10 with huge efforts.
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p_g
12/23/2010 5:53 AM EST
Even if we compile top 100 CEO's I am sure we will not be able to cover all CEO's worth recognition.
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Silicon_Smith
12/22/2010 11:34 AM EST
A neat list, I would say. Especially, with ARM, Renesas, Atmel and TI in the list. Refreshing to see these getting recognized.
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mk020
12/28/2010 2:33 AM EST
Does anyone dare to list the 10 who had the biggest negative impact on their companies?
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Chipr
1/4/2011 3:23 PM EST
Steve Sanghi of Microchip Technology should be on this list. He's the only semi CEO who did not layoff a single employee during 2009-2010 crisis and those loyal employess then turned around and grew his company by 45%. True leadership is at the helm of this highly successful firm that just celebrated it's 80th quarter of profitabilty. Yes 80 quarters... Has any other CEO on the list had that type of track record?
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uzico
1/12/2011 4:54 AM EST
I'm sorry but i cannot agree with TI CEO selection.
Nokia is going down, and TI's CPU line is mainly in their phones. a new alliance is formed to replace Win-Tel: QUAL-DROID, with Qualcomm taking over the smartphones CPU market. so where is TI in all that?
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