Mentor Graphics Corporation yesterday announced Greg Helton as president and managing director for Mentor Graphics Japan. During Mr. Helton’s career, spanning 26 years in the semiconductor industry, he has had executive responsibilities in marketing, sales, and general management. He has spent the last 14 years as a resident of Japan, with a proven track record in growing business for U.S. semiconductor companies.

Prior to joining Mentor Graphics, Mr. Helton was managing director and president of Aptina Imaging Japan LLC. Mr. Helton was previously at Fairchild Semiconductor, where he was corporate vice-president and president and managing director of Fairchild Semiconductor Japan. Before that he was corporate vice-president at LSI Logic and president of LSI Logic Japan. Earlier in his career he held senior management positions at VLSI Technology and National Semiconductor Corporation.

“With his extensive semiconductor background, strong experience in sales operations and familiarity with Japan based on his many years of living and working there, Greg Helton has the right combination of management skills and experience for this position,” said Walden C. Rhines, chairman and CEO of Mentor Graphics. “We feel confident he will be a tremendous asset to our Japan operation, and we welcome him to the Mentor Graphics team.”

“Mentor Graphics is a great company, and I share its firm belief that the customer is always the top priority,” said Greg Helton. “As a former Mentor Graphics customer I am excited to have this opportunity to contribute to Mentor’s success in Japan.”