US chipmaker Qualcomm has announced the appointment of Cristiano Amon as its new chief executive, effective 30 June 2021.
In a statement, the company says its board of directors unanimously selected Amon to succeed Steve Mollenkopf as CEO.
Amon is no stranger to Qualcomm as he has been with the company since 1995. He currently serves as its president, a role he has occupied since 2018.
As president, Amon is responsible for Qualcomm’s semiconductor business (QCT), which includes mobile, RF front end, automotive and the Internet of Things (IOT) revenue streams, and the company’s global operations.
Qualcomm notes that Amon has driven the expansion and diversification of the business across industries and customers, overseen the chipmaker’s 5G strategy, and for almost 15 years has been steering development of a leading and differentiated product roadmap.
He has also overseen the successful execution of M&A to augment Qualcomm’s capabilities and accelerate growth in key areas, including RF front end, connectivity and networking, according to the company.
Amon holds a BS in electrical engineering and an honorary doctorate from UNICAMP, the State University of Campinas, Brazil. He also serves as the co-chairman of the World Economic Forum IOT Council.
Mark McLaughlin, chair of Qualcomm’s board of directors, states: “Cristiano was the clear choice to be Qualcomm’s next CEO, having the track record of successful execution, deep company knowledge, very strong relationships with our ecosystem of partners, and the strategic vision to take the company forward. He is an authentic leader who has played a critical role in the company’s success. We look forward to working together with him to lead the company through its next chapter of growth.”
“I am honoured to be named the next CEO of Qualcomm and appreciate the confidence that Steve and the board have in me," says Amon. “Qualcomm is an incredible company. We have been at the forefront of innovation for decades and I look forward to maintaining this position going forward.
“In addition to driving the expansion of 5G into mainstream devices and beyond mobile, Qualcomm is set to play a key role in the digital transformation of numerous industries as our technologies become essential to connecting everything to the cloud. The need for our solutions has never been more pronounced and our leadership position has never been more evident. I look forward to working with our 41 000 employees around the world to create technologies that revolutionise the way people live, work and connect with each other.”
Qualcomm notes that Mollenkopf informed the board of his decision to retire as CEO following 26 years with the company, adding that he will continue his employment with the company as a strategic advisor for a period of time.
“I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished at Qualcomm and the position the company currently enjoys as the world’s leader in wireless technologies,” says Mollenkopf. “With our business model clearly validated and our leadership in 5G, this is the right time for Cristiano to assume leadership of the company and preside over what I see as the single largest opportunity in the company’s history.”
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