Cree, Inc. announced the appointment of Gregg Lowe as the new president and chief executive officer succeeding Chuck Swoboda, beginning September 27.
Lowe brings significant semiconductor experience to Cree, serving as president and CEO of Freescale Semiconductor from 2012 until 2015, when it was acquired by NXP. Prior to leading Freescale, he spent 28 years in various roles at Texas Instruments (TI), including leading TI's analog semiconductor business.
Lowe holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and was awarded an honorary doctorate in engineering from Rose-Hulman in 2014. He completed the executive program at Stanford University.
Lowe serves on the boards of Silicon Labs in Austin, Baylor Healthcare System in Dallas and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Lowe will also serve on Cree's board.
Robert Ingram, a board member and the lead independent director, will become chairman of Cree's board.
Swoboda announced he was stepping down as Cree's president and CEO in May 2017, citing shifting life priorities: “My decision to change my work-life balance follows a recent medical issue, which was resolved, and which caused me to reevaluate my priorities.”
Swoboda will remain on the board until the annual meeting of shareholders on October 24.
Lowe said, “I want to thank Chuck Swoboda for guiding this company for the past sixteen years. His leadership helped solidify Cree as an industry leader in multiple businesses. Cree’s innovation engine is unmatched in the industry.”
One of Cree's businesses is Wolfspeed, which comprises SiC and GaN materials and devices for RF and power electronics. From his tenure at Freescale, Lowe has some experience with RF power applications, as Freescale led the industry in LDMOS, particularly for wireless infrastructure.
Robert Ingram, Cree's new board chairman, said “Gregg is an exceptional leader and a proven visionary in the semiconductor industry. We are proud that he has accepted the CEO position and is prepared to lead this innovative, technology-rich company into the future.”