As of March 10th, 2009, Applied Materials’ Chairman of over 20 years will step down from the chair and will be replaced by company CEO Mike Splinter. James C. Morgan (pictured), an Applied Materials employee since 1976 and holder of the role of CEO from 1977 to 2003, will assume the role of Chairman Emeritus and will not run for re-election as company chairman, as he has reached the customary Board retirement age of 70.
Mr. Morgan’s 26-year CEO tenure is one of the longest logged of any Fortune 500 CEO. He was instrumental in the growth of Applied Materials, and received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to technology, business development and education, including the 1996 National Medal of Technology awarded by the President of the United States and the Spirit of Silicon Valley Lifetime Achievement Award 2006, awarded by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
“It has been a tremendous honor to a be a part of Applied Materials and to help build a small, young company into a great global competitor innovating semiconductor, display and service solutions that improve the way people live all around the world,” said Mr. Morgan. “I believe that today Applied has more opportunities than at any time in our history, and that Mike Splinter is the right person to lead Applied and our team of employees to extend our technology into energy and the environment.”