News: Microelectronics
29 June 2021
AKHAN gains former Intel Americas president as chairman
AKHAN Semiconductor Inc of Gurnee, IL, USA – which was founded in 2013 and specializes in the fabrication and application of synthetic, lab-grown, electronics-grade diamond as functional semiconductors – says that semiconductor executive Tom Lacey has joined its board as chairman. A former president of Intel Americas, Lacey has more than three decades of experience leading both public and private companies in the semiconductor and licensing sectors and will be instrumental in leading AKHAN as it plans for massive scale-up of its Miraj Diamond technology portfolio.
“Despite our revolutionary materials and prolific customer base, AKHAN, up until this point, has largely been made up of its nascent technology team. We’ve done an outstanding job in taking our Miraj Diamond tech from concept to prototype, and now is the time for massive scale,” believes founder & CEO Adam Khan. “Tom, who’s onboarding marks the launch of our operational growth phase, is one of the most well respected, trusted and knowledgeable leaders in the entire semiconductor and technology space, providing AKHAN with a distinguished executive who will lead the company,” he adds.
As the only diamond semiconductor fab in North America, AKHAN reckons that it is positioned for mass expansion as the USA works to address the global semiconductor shortage and regain industry leadership. In addition to heading Intel Americas, Lacey has worked across startups, mid-sized and large public and private companies in the technology space and will provide AKHAN with insight and deep understanding as the company brings its Miraj Diamond technology portfolio to market across various industries including aerospace, consumer electronics, military & defense, automotive, and telecoms.
“Semiconductors have hit the global stage, and AKHAN is best positioned to pioneer the much needed transition away from silicon semiconductors and usher in a new age of faster, lighter, simpler and more powerful devices that will lead to the ‘diamond age of electronics’,” comments Lacey. “Adam Khan and his impressive team have brought significant and much needed innovation to the space. Now it’s time to unleash diamond’s immense capabilities on chips, as well as optical and glass coatings, as AKHAN has impressive successes in research and customer development in all three areas,” he adds.
Diamond is proven to be the most optimal semiconductor material, far outmatching industry-standard silicon in speed, power handling, density and operating temperature, says AKHAN. The firm’s Miraj Diamond Platform can greatly improve semiconductor performance and also offer diamond’s physical advantages to glass and optics (stronger, harder, more durable), it adds.
Lacey is a proven executive who has worked for technology companies including Intel and Tessera/Xperi. His roles have spanned positions in leadership, engineering, marketing, sales, OEM, retail channel, distribution, management, operations, intellectual property, P&L, Wall Street, fundraising, international geographies (especially Asia) and merger & acquisition areas, making him a suitable fit to lead AKHAN’s board as it brings its Miraj Diamond glass, optics and electronics solutions to market, the firm reckons.
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