25 June 2012

GigOptix appoints Fabrinet chairman & CEO to its board

GigOptix Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (a fabless supplier of semiconductor and optical components for high-speed information streaming) has appointed David T. (Tom) Mitchell to fill a vacancy on its board of directors for an independent Class I director as the firm moves from an early-stage company to a “globally mature manufacturing organization”.

Mitchell has over 33 years of experience in the electronics and semiconductor industries, while founding and co-founding two of the biggest manufacturing companies in the industry. Currently, he is chairman, CEO & founder of Thailand-based Fabrinet Co Ltd (which provides optical, electro-mechanical and electronic contract manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers of products such as optical communication components, modules and sub-systems, industrial lasers and sensors). He was also a co-founder & president of disk-drive maker Seagate Technology, formerly Thailand’s largest foreign employer.

GigOptix says that Mitchell is widely considered to be a pioneering force in the establishment of Asia as the pre-eminent manufacturing base for the hard-disk-drive industry. With his extensive experience in manufacturing of complex high-precision electronics, he leveraged his expertise into other vertical markets such as optical, automotive and industrial products. Many of the world’s leading technology companies now look to Fabrinet for the manufacture of their products. Mitchell has also established high-volume, low-cost manufacturing bases in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India and China. Mitchell received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Montana State University. He has also served as Captain in the US Marine Corp.

“His wealth and depth of experience, pioneering the Asia contract manufacturing industry, and building the leading CM [contract manufacturer] of high-speed optical components in the world, will certainly add a new level of professional and technical expertise to our team, as we continue to rapidly grow as a production trusted partner with our large number of industry-leading customers,” says GigOptix’s chairman, chief executive & president Dr Avi Katz. The firm now has a board consisting of five independent directors with diverse experience.

“This is the first time I have accepted such an offer to join a board of directors of a public company,” notes Mitchell. “The future looks very promising for GigOptix based on their innovative products, aggressive execution and approach to business, primarily through partnering,” he comments.

Tags: GigOptix Fabrinet

Visit: www.gigoptix.com

Visit: www.fabrinet.com