Ovsiannikov will head MagnaChip's U.S. R&D efforts and report to Robert Krakauer, president of MagnaChip.

Ovsiannikov will focus on development and delivery of next-generation image-enhancement and -processing technologies and architectures for the CMOS image sensor end markets MagnaChip serves, including mobile phones, PCs, notebook computers, and security applications.

"MagnaChip's imaging solutions business grew 144.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the fourth quarter of 2007. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Ovsiannikov has joined MagnaChip, as we continue to drive growth in our imaging solutions business. In Dr. Ovsiannikov," said Krakauer, "I have found both a technology visionary and a results-oriented leader with a proven track record in driving product development and realization. I expect that he will play a pivotal role as we work together to drive our next-generation image sensors."

Previously, Ovsiannikov worked at Micron, where his most recent position was R&D manager and architect in Imaging. He has filed more than 20 patent applications in the areas of noise reduction, camera functions, defect correction, contrast enhancement, lens shading, and CMOS pixel technology, among others.

Prior to Micron, Ovsiannikov was a research scientist at Rockwell Scientific and Photobit. He received a BS, cum laude, in Computer Engineering from MIREA Moscow State Technical University, as well as an MS and PhD in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

MagnaChip Semiconductor, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, designs and manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products.