memsstar appoints CEO with semiconductor and packaging experience

May 8, 2012 — memsstar Limited, deposition and etch equipment supplier to the micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) and semiconductor industries, named Mike Thompson as chief executive officer (CEO). He brings experience from STMicroelectronics, Replisaurus, and other microelectronics companies.

Interim CEO Peter Connock will remain with memsstar as chairman of the board.

Thompson will lead the company — which recently consolidated its semiconductor and MEMS manufacturing products under one brand — in organic growth, new product/services introductions, and strategic partnerships for both markets. "memsstar is extremely well positioned at the high end of the semiconductor refurbishment market in Europe with a great deal of market opportunity existing for revenue expansion,” said Thompson, adding that “the company has developed tremendous etch and coating technology for the global MEMS market.” In 2011, memsstar expanded in "Silicon Glen," doubling its cleanroom manufacturing space in Livingston, Scotland.

Thompson comes to memsstar from a technical and operational consultancy role in Europe’s high technology sector. He was CTO of Replisaurus Technologies, which develops copper wire bonding for IC packaging, from 2008 to 2011. Before that, he served as deputy CTO and VP of STMicroelectronics (STM, ST), responsible for the development of CMOS and derived technologies, as well as the French VLSI manufacturing operations in Rousset and Crolles. He led the factory start-ups of Crolles 1 (200mm) and Crolles 2 (300mm) and served as operations manager of those facilities, overseeing approximately 5000 employees and a production output value of around $1 billion per year.

Thompson holds a BSc in astronomy with advanced mathematics from the University of Glasgow.

memsstar Limited provides deposition and etch equipment and technology solutions to manufacturers of micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) and semiconductors. Website: www.memsstar.com.

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