Michael Fischer, a former KLA-Tencor executive with over 23 years of experience in the semiconductor and process control industries, has been named as Head of Worldwide Sales for Nanometrics, with immediate effect. 

Mark Peterson (pictured), former SVP, General Counsel and Secretary at Targus Group International, Inc., has joined Conexant as Chief Legal Officer. Also assuming the roles of Secretary and Senior Vice President, Mr. Peterson will take responsibility for all of Conexant’s global legal affairs, and will report to CEO Dan Artusi. 

SEMI China has announced the bestowal of two awards on SMIC for contributions to the industry. Dr. Richard Chang, President and CEO of SMIC, was honoured with the Industry Outstanding Contribution Award, while the company was given the SEMI China Corporate Social Contribution Award. 

IP design company MIPS Technologies has brought on board a finance veteran to take up the responsibility of managing the company’s finances. Maury Austin (pictured), former employee of General Electric and Apple Computer, steps into the CFO role with immediate effect, and will report to CEO John Bourgoin. 

Dr. Bob Gunn has been named as Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology’s (OIPT) Applications Team Leader, with responsibility for business’s sales support and product development, such as the development of new plasma and ion beam technologies. 

Mikron JSC President and CEO Gennady Krasnikov (pictured) has been appointed to the Leadership Council for the EMEA region for the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA). The GSA Board of Directors appoints executives from the semiconductor industry to its Leadership Council to serve as advisors on global and regional issues. 

Hitachi’s Board of Directors has decided to rearrange management with the appointment of a new Executive Officer and the reassignment of two resigned Vice Presidents. 

Linda Heller, formerly Vice President of Finance for Amgen, has been appointed Vice President of Investor Relations for Applied Materials. Ms. Heller will oversee all relationships with financial analysts, investors and the financial community, and replaces Randy Bane, who takes up the role of Vice President and Chief Economist for Applied. 

AMD has appointed ex-Dell Vice President of IT Ahmed Mahmoud to the role of Chief Information Officer. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in the IT leadership to AMD, Mahmoud will manage the company’s technology developments and aid in the company’s infrastructure expansion. 

Richard Nakajima of RF Design Services company Cubic Micro has been named as Japan country manager for Jazz Semiconductor. Mr. Nakajima will work from Cubic Micro’s base in Japan and will provide sales, marketing and business development expertise to the specialist foundry’s Japanese operations.