18 February 2014

GaN Systems hires director European operations prior to launching commercial products in 2014

GaN Systems Inc of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, a fabless developer of gallium nitride (GaN)-based power switching semiconductors for power conversion and control applications, has appointed Tony Astley as director of European operations. Astley will have overall responsibility for all aspects of business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and will further develop the firm’s presence in the region, which represents about 20% of the world’s total market for power device sales.

GaN Systems says that its cost-effective, high-power gallium nitride transistors feature proprietary Island Technology and overcome the limitations of existing silicon-based semiconductors, bringing significantly better performance and efficiency to power conversion applications such as alternative energy products and electric and hybrid vehicles (EV/HEV). The EMEA region is a world leader in industrial and automotive technologies, says GaN Systems, and Astley’s role will encompass broad-based customers across the region as well as large OEMs in the industrial, power and automotive sectors.

“This year GaN Systems will commercialize its broad range of GaN-on-silicon products, and European customers, who are long-time global leaders in the industrial and automotive electronics segments, will be some of our earliest adopters,” reckons CEO Girvan Patterson.

Astley joins GaN Systems from Texas Instruments, where he held senior positions at director level in both regional sales and sales operations. Achievements include implementing customer support models in major OEMs, broadening sales channels, and increasing revenue.

Tags: GaN Systems Power electronics

Visit: www.gansystems.com