SIA President George Scalise Announces Plan to Retire

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced that George Scalise, president of the organization since 1997, will retire at the end of 2010. SIA will immediately begin a search process to identify possible candidates for a successor. SIA also announced that in connection with the transition, it will relocate its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Washington, D.C. The move is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

“Few individuals are fortunate enough to spend an entire career in an industry that has had such a profound and positive impact on people around the globe,” said Scalise. “Semiconductor-enabled technologies have exponentially expanded human knowledge, the most powerful force in our world. I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity I have had to be associated with the industry and its leaders.”

“George Scalise has been a tireless champion for the semiconductor industry for nearly five decades,” said SIA Chairman John Daane. “He has devoted his entire career to the industry and has been deeply involved with SIA since its establishment in 1977. George informed the board a year ago of his intent to retire at the end of 2010. As a part of the succession process, the board reviewed the industry’s needs and the increasing impact of public policies on competitiveness. After much study, we concluded that to have a greater and more effective voice, we must have a greater presence in Washington.

“The fundamentals of the semiconductor industry remain unchanged,” Daane continued. “The competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor industry is based on innovation, which in turn is based on leadership in technology. Leadership – especially in semiconductor technology – is critical to U.S. strategies to drive economic growth, improve the productivity of American workers, enhance our standard of living, advance medical science and health care, and ensure our national security.

“Government policies – including those that deal with workforce, the environment, taxation, university research, and global trade – influence where to invest in capital-intensive facilities for design, R&D, and manufacturing. U.S.-based companies can compete successfully on a level playing field. We must redouble our efforts to support public policies that encourage capital formation, support investment in both R&D and basic research, and enhance the climate for investment in manufacturing in the U.S. Our decision to relocate our principal office to Washington was based on these considerations,” Daane concluded.

About the SIA

The SIA is the leading voice for the semiconductor industry and has represented U.S. semiconductor companies since 1977. Collectively, the chip industry employs a domestic workforce of approximately 200,000 people. The semiconductor industry is America’s second-largest exporting industry. More information about the SIA can be found at www.sia-online.org.

Semiconductor Industry Association
John Greenagel, 408-436-6600
mailbox@sia-online.org