A New Semiconductor Technology Paradigm (Printed Electronics Asia 2008)

 

Amir Mashkoori, chief executive officer, applies nearly 30 years of semiconductor industry experience to his leadership role at Kovio, Inc. His background includes an in-depth understanding of how to create new businesses and drive demand for emerging products and technologies.

 

Mr. Mashkoori came to Kovio from Spansion, the largest company focused exclusively on Flash memory. He played an instrumental role in the formation of Spansion in 2003, and managed the company's Wireless Business Unit. As executive vice president, he oversaw the marketing, engineering, operations and business functions of the division. Under Mr. Mashkoori's leadership, the wireless division made significant market share gains into the world's largest handset providers by transitioning from a commodity player to a systems solutions provider. During his tenure, the division experienced more than double market share growth in the wireless handset market as the market itself expanded to almost one billion units in 2006.

 

Mr. Mashkoori began his professional career at AMD in 1978, serving in various senior level operational roles for a period of 17 years. Mr. Mashkoori was also vice president of operations and later senior vice president of operations and business development at Trident Microsystems between 1996 and 1998, before re-joining AMD in 1999. At AMD he held various executive positions including vice president of operations, vice president of the Embedded Business Unit, vice president of the Wireless Business Unit, and vice president and director of operations for the Memory Group.

 

Mr. Mashkoori holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business administration from San Jose State University.

Kovio Inc., a privately held Silicon Valley company, is developing a new category of semiconductor products using printed silicon electronics and thin film technology. This new manufacturing technology combines the low cost of graphics printing with the power and functionality of silicon-based semiconductors. The company was founded in the MIT Media Laboratory by a team of scientists that recognized the significant impact that combining silicon and print technologies could have on the world.