Stuart K. McIntosh--Philips' chief architect in setting up global chip manufacturing operations since the late 1990s--will take over ASML's growing lithography business as the Dutch company moves forward to complete its acquisition of Silicon Valley Group Inc. In early October, ASML announced it was acquiring San Jose-based SVG for about $1.6 billion in stock to become the world's largest supplier of lithography equipment for chip manufacturing (see Oct. 2 story).

ASML said McIntosh will join the company on Dec. 15. It was not immediately clear how Philips plans to fill McIntosh's position.

The semiconductor division of Royal Philips Electronics N.V. in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, is now attempting to accelerate its investments in worldwide production, while balancing internal wafer fab volumes with outside foundries. McIntosh told SBN last month that Philips was planning to increase its capital spending at a steady pace in the next several years and soon decide on the location of a new 300-mm wafer fab (see Oct. 6 story).

McIntosh joined Philips in 1994 after working for Motorola, General Instruments and GEC Plessey Semiconductor. In his current position, McIntosh has been a senior member of Philips Semiconductors management team, heading up the company's manufacturing operations and strategy to use silicon foundries. McIntosh is currently the chairman of Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Co. SSMC, a joint venture foundry in Singapore between Philips and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC).

"With his 28 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, he will make a valuable contribution to the strategic direction and operations of ASML at an important time in the development of the company," said Doug J. Dunn, chairman of the board and CEO of ASML. Prior to joining ASML, Dunn was the head of Philips Semiconductors and GEC Plessey.