Globalfoundries’ CEO decides to step down
In the future Jha intends to work closely with the Abu Dhabi state-owned holding company Mubadala Investment Company that is the parent to Globalfoundries. Jha will explore the development and build out of potential future systems businesses, Globalfoundries said in a statement.
Jha’s successor Caulfield joined Globalfoundries with the acquisition of IBM Microelectronics in 2014 where Caulfield had spent 17 years in a variety of senior leadership roles. In his time at Globalfoundries Caulfield built and ramped the 14nm production facility in Malta, New York state.
Under Jha’s leadership Globalfoundries has established itself as the second-largest pure-play foundry behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The company has also established a road-map for its FDSOI-based FDX manufacturing technology and in 2017 announced a partnership with Chengdu region in China where a 300mm wafer fab is set to begin operations in 2019.
That said questions have been raised about its profitability and its ability to gain business at the leading edge where TSMC appears to dominate and Samsung Electronics also wins business.
It was reported that in 2017 Globalfoundries asked the European Union’s antitrust regulators to investigate TSMC, accusing the rival foundry of unfair practices such as: demands for exclusivity in contracts, offers of loyalty rebates, the bundling of sales, and threats of restricting access to TSMC’s semiconductor production. TSMC is alleged to have discriminated against companies that had supported foundry design flows other than TSMCs.
Next: Reset the competitive playing field
“The acquisition of IBM’s microelectronics business has allowed us to independently develop leading-edge technology including 7nm, as well as expand our leadership positions in differentiated businesses such as RF, ASICS and the FDX platform,” said Jha in a statement, “Tom Caulfield is the right person to build on this record of success and strengthen GF’s position as a leading foundry partner to the semiconductor industry.”
Caulfield said that new customers are coming to market and that Globalfoundries has an opportunity to “reset the competitive playing field in the rapidly-growing foundry segment.”
Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, chairman of the board of directors of Globalfoundries, said: “We will continue to invest to differentiate and grow the business and further consolidate the industry through partnerships, in a way that allows us to better serve our customers,” He added that Jha had delivered on strategic milestones.
Related links and articles:
News articles:
Globalfoundries’ CEO on why FD-SOI and why now
Report: GlobalFoundries accuses TSMC of unfair selling
Globalfoundries says EUV in production in 2019
Globalfoundries commits to FDSOI process
Globalfoundries Appoints Sanjay Jha CEO
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