ENGtechnica

Tag: Semiconductor

  • Nanopower Names Svein-Egil Nielsen as Chair of Board

    Nanopower Names Svein-Egil Nielsen as Chair of Board

    KRISTIANSAND, NORWAY, Feb 7, 2025 – Nanopower Semiconductor AS has appointed ex-Nordic Semiconductor chief technology officer (CTO) Svein-Egil Nielsen as the chair of its board of directors. Nanopower is a Norwegian fabless semiconductor manufacturer of the nPZero power-saving IC that reduces the power consumption of battery-powered applications by up to 90%.

    Svein-Egil Nielsen

    Nanopower CEO Tore Irgens Kuhnle said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Nielsen as the new Chair of our Board of Directors. His extensive track record and deep expertise in the semiconductor industry make him an invaluable addition. With his leadership, we are poised to accelerate both our commercial success and product innovation.’

    Svein-Egil Nielsen spent almost 20 years at Nordic Semiconductor, including 11 years as CTO after having also been the Sales & Marketing Director. Nielsen played a key role in Nordic’s development into a top global company, generating over $500 million in annual sales, offering a wide range of products.

    Nielsen said: “I am really excited to join Nanopower because I can see the combination of a unique product and a talented team all pulling in the same direction.”

    The appointment signifies Nanopower’s ambition to expand globally as it commences production of its nPZero power-saving integrated circuit. Nanopower is set to start supplying samples of nPZero to customers this quarter and is accepting orders for its nPZero evaluation board.

    Founder and departing chairman, Odd Harald Hauge, is satisfied with being succeeded by Nielsen: “Svein-Egil Nielsen brings exactly the right competence and a clear sense of mission about the difference that Nanopower can make to the world.” Odd Harald Hauge will continue on the board of Nanopower.

    Svein-Egil Nielsen’s appointment as non-executive chair of the board is effective immediately.

    About Nanopower

    Nanopower Semiconductor AS, founded in 2017, is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Kristiansand, Norway, with additional operations in Porto, Portugal. The company specializes in ultra-low-power integrated circuits (ICs) designed to significantly reduce energy consumption in battery-powered devices. Their proprietary nPZero technology enables devices to operate in the nanoampere range during periods without wireless communication, thereby extending battery life. Nanopower serves industries such as the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial automation, and sensor networks, focusing on sustainable and scalable electronic solutions. Nanopower secured a grant of approximately $2.68 million in June 2023 to further its development efforts.

    Source: Nanopower

  • Dolphin Semiconductor Adds New Board Members

    Dolphin Semiconductor Adds New Board Members

    MEYLAN, France and MONTREAL, Canada, Feb 4, 2025 – Dolphin Semiconductor is announcing today the appointment of Robert LeFort as chairman of the board and Shelly Van Dyke as an independent board member. These appointments aim to strengthen the company’s governance and drive its growth strategy.

    Image: Business Wire

    The addition of Robert LeFort and Shelly Van Dyke to its Board of Directors highlights the commitment to advancing its global growth strategy, fostering innovation, and strengthening its leadership in the semiconductor industry.

    Robert LeFort, former president of Infineon Technologies North America, assumes the role of chairman of the board. Dolphin Semiconductor strategy development and governance will benefit from his profound understanding of the semiconductor industry and its key actors, as well as his Board experience. Robert said, “I look forward to be a part of the transformation of Dolphin Semiconductor, strengthening its position as a world class provider of semiconductor IP partnering with the most influential technology leaders in the world.”

    Shelly Van Dyke, vice president of strategy, analog & automotive embedded systems at NXP Semiconductors, joins the board as an independent member. With her broad experience in strategic planning and M&A within the semiconductor sector, she brings a wealth of knowledge that will support Dolphin Semiconductor’s ambition to scale up. “I am excited to work with the Dolphin Semiconductor team in their next chapter of growth, building on their impressive track record of energy efficient and innovative IP designs,” says Shelly.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Robert LeFort and Shelly Van Dyke to our board of directors,” said Laurent Monge, CEO of Dolphin Semiconductor. “Their extensive experience and proven expertise will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Dolphin Semiconductor. Their contributions will help us achieve our ambitious goals and continue to innovate in the semiconductor industry.”

    These appointments underscore Dolphin Semiconductor’s dedication to accelerating its journey in delivering cutting-edge, energy-efficient semiconductor IP solutions in all regions.

    Following these appointments, the Dolphin Semiconductor Board of Directors is composed of:

    • Robert LeFort, chairman of the board
    • Pierre Garnier, managing partner, Jolt Capital
    • Maxime Mallet, general partner, Jolt Capital
    • Clement Bourgogne, investment director, Canada, Jolt Capital
    • Claude Jean, independent board member
    • Shelly Van Dyke, independent board member

    About Robert LeFort

    Robert (Bob) LeFort retired from Infineon Technologies in July 2023, where he was president of Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. Bob led Infineon Americas starting in January 2015 after the acquisition of International Rectifier. Bob also led the integration of Cypress Semiconductor closed in April 2020. Bob was previously the corporate vice president of strategy and M&A based in Munich after rejoining the company in 2013. Before his return to Infineon, Bob was the CEO of Ember Corp., which Silicon Labs acquired in 2012. Bob has served on nonprofit boards and advisory committees. He is also currently on the Board of Directors for Boreas Technologies. Robert LeFort holds an MBA with High Honors from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

    About Shelly Van Dyke

    Shelly Van Dyke is vice president of strategy, analog & automotive embedded systems at NXP Semiconductors. She has over 38 years of experience in engineering, strategy and strategic finance for the semiconductor industry and the technology supply chain. Career highlights include the start-up of the NXP Oak Hill fab, Freescale’s initial public offerings, serving on the Board of the world semiconductor trade statistics industry association, the NXP-Freescale merger integration, and NXP’s pending acquisition of TTTech Auto. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Regis University.

    About Dolphin Semiconductor

    Dolphin Semiconductor, established in 1985 and headquartered in Meylan, France, specializes in designing and developing analog and mixed-signal semiconductor IP solutions. The company offers a range of products, including power management IP, audio IP, and power metering IP, designed for applications in mobile devices, consumer electronics, automotive systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT). With a focus on energy efficiency, Dolphin Semiconductor enables longer battery life and reduced power consumption in electronic devices. As of 2023, the company employs approximately 125 professionals.