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daleste
Thank you for the perspective, Junko. It just seems strange that a 45 year old ...
junko.yoshida
I think whenever we hear the news like CEO change, we immediately assume that ...
Tuttle replaces Sayiner as CEO at Silicon Labs
George Leopold
3/1/2012 8:36 PM EST
Tyson Tuttle will take the helm at analog and mixed-signal specialist Silicon Labs, the company announced Thursday (March 1), replacing Necip Sayiner as president and CEO effective April 18.
Tuttle, 44, joined Silicon Labs (Austin, Texas) in 1997, leading the company’s marketing efforts for its first RF products. He went on to oversee development of Silicon Lab’s video IC and radio development and marketing strategy. Tuttle later led the company’s broadcast business, which represents about a third of Silicon Lab's current business, until 2010, when he moved up to become chief technology officer.
Tuttle, who earned a masters' degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, was named COO last year, managing Silicon Labs' business units and R&D activities, the company said.
Touting the company’s design team and growth potential, Tuttle said in a statement: "I will be focused on leveraging this solid framework to further optimize the business and realize the high rate of growth I believe we’re capable of over the next decade.”
Sayiner, who joined Silicon Labs in 2005, will step down as CEO the day before the company’s annual shareholder meeting. Under his leadership, the company’s revenues doubled.
Silicon Labs gave no reason for the change in leadership.
The company has emphasized that it is positioned to compete with larger rivals like Texas Instruments to compete in the emerging “Internet of things” market.
Related stories:
Three Reasons To Take Silicon Labs Seriously
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daleste
3/1/2012 10:14 PM EST
Interesting. Anyone know why they fired Sayiner? I guess double wasn't enough. It's always "what have you done lately?"
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goafrit
3/2/2012 11:20 AM EST
Congrats to the Johns Hopkins guy. Yet, we need to be told why the CEO is leaving. Health? I have checked and nothing seems to show up. Thought this company is doing fine!
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junko.yoshida
3/8/2012 7:35 AM EST
I think whenever we hear the news like CEO change, we immediately assume that something might have gone wrong.
As far as I can tell by listening to the CEO transition call Silicon Labs made on March 1st, this may be one of those rare occasions that the succession plan might have been in place well before the announcement; and they had plenty of time to groom Tuttle to become the next CEO.
Tuttle made it clear in the conference call -- which was joined by Necip Sayiner, the company's current CEO -- saying: "We are not in need of a new strategy," and "I don't expect to make dramatic changes. We have a great business, and we'd like to preserve and build upon what made it successful."
If everything they are saying is true (and there is no reason NOT to believe them), the company has managed to plan ahead for a successful transition -- instead of creating usual chaos we often see in a company in a quarterly panic mode, with "heads are rolling, heads are rolling!"
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daleste
3/8/2012 9:47 PM EST
Thank you for the perspective, Junko. It just seems strange that a 45 year old CEO is replaced with a 44 year old. I guess if I made $5.5 mil last year, I would be ready to retire, but I'm not a CEO. I would expect that he would move to chairman of the board or something.
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