Wolfspeed Announces Leadership Transition
November 18 2024 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
- Gregg Lowe to Depart as President & CEO and as a Member of
the Board of Directors
- Current Chairman Thomas Werner Appointed Executive
Chairman
- Search Process Underway to Identify Permanent CEO
Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) today announced that its Board of
Directors (the “Board”) has determined and agreed with Gregg Lowe
that he will depart this month from his roles as Wolfspeed’s
President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board.
The Board is conducting a search to identify a permanent CEO with
the support of a leading global executive search firm.
The Board has appointed Thomas Werner, Chairman of the Board, as
Executive Chairman while the Board works to identify Wolfspeed’s
next CEO. Mr. Werner will oversee the continued execution of
Wolfspeed’s strategy in close alignment with Wolfspeed’s senior
leadership team, the Board and the Board’s operations and finance
committees. Following Mr. Werner’s appointment as Executive
Chairman, Board member Stacy Smith was appointed as Lead
Independent Director.
“On behalf of the full Board, I would like to thank Gregg for
his service and dedication to Wolfspeed,” Mr. Werner said. “Since
joining the Company as CEO in 2017, Gregg has spearheaded our
transition into a leading, pure-play silicon carbide company
well-positioned to capture the long-term opportunities ahead. The
Board has always been focused on driving long-term value, and at
this inflection point in Wolfspeed’s journey, the Board agreed that
this is the right time for a leadership transition.”
Mr. Werner added, “I have started in the role of Executive
Chairman to keep Wolfspeed focused on completing key priorities
while the Board conducts a search for our next CEO. I look forward
to working closely with our highly engaged Board and senior
leadership team to oversee day-to-day operations and ensure we
continue to provide our customers with high-quality products. As we
look ahead, we are firmly committed to our key strategic
initiatives, which includes executing against the milestones
outlined in our recent CHIPS PMT agreement, completing our
restructuring initiatives to lower our break-even point and
accelerate our path towards profitability, and delivering sales
growth on a consistent basis. Wolfspeed is materially undervalued
relative to its strategic value and I will focus on driving the
Company’s priorities and working with the Finance Committee of the
Board to explore options to unlock value.”
Mr. Lowe said, “I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead
Wolfspeed and work alongside such talented and dedicated
colleagues. Over the past seven years, we have transformed
Wolfspeed into the only pure-play and vertically integrated silicon
carbide operator in the country to capitalize on the structural and
long-term demand for next generation semiconductor technology.
While there is work still to be done, I have every confidence that
Wolfspeed will execute on its strategic priorities and extend its
silicon carbide leadership in the years to come.”
About Thomas Werner
Mr. Werner has been a member of the Board of Directors since
March 2006, and has served as Chairman of the Board of the Company
since October 2023. He has served as the Executive Chairman of
SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a publicly traded marketer of
high-efficiency solar cells and solar panels, since February 2024,
and served as Principal Executive Officer of SunPower from February
2024 until August 2024. Mr. Werner previously served as Sunpower’s
Chairman of the Board of Directors from June 2010 to November 2021
and as its Chief Executive Officer from June 2003 to April 2021.
Prior to SunPower, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Silicon
Light Machines Corporation, an optical solutions subsidiary of
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, from July 2001 to June 2003.
Earlier, Mr. Werner was Vice President and General Manager of the
Business Connectivity Group of 3Com Corporation, a network
solutions company.
About Wolfspeed, Inc.:
Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide
adoption of silicon carbide technologies that power the world’s
most disruptive innovations. As the pioneers of silicon carbide,
and creators of the most advanced semiconductor technology on
earth, we are committed to powering a better world for everyone.
Through silicon carbide material, Power Modules, Discrete Power
Devices and Power Die Products targeted for various applications,
we will bring you The Power to Make It Real.TM Learn more at
www.wolfspeed.com.
X (formerly Twitter): @Wolfspeed LinkedIn: @Wolfspeed
Wolfspeed® is a registered trademark and The Power to Make It
Real™ is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements by
Wolfspeed involving risks and uncertainties, both known and
unknown, that may cause Wolfspeed’s actual results to differ
materially from those indicated. Forward-looking statements by
their nature address matters that are, to different degrees,
uncertain, such as statements about Wolfspeed’s ability to capture
long-term opportunities and execute on its strategy, as well as its
ability to achieve milestones necessary to access funding. Actual
results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including
the timing of the CEO search; risks associated with Wolfspeed’s
expansion plans; changes in customer demand; Wolfspeed’s ability to
obtain additional funding or take other actions required under the
terms outlined in the PMT; Wolfspeed’s ability to lower costs; and
other factors discussed in Wolfspeed’s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the
year ended June 30, 2024, and subsequent filings.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241118000304/en/
Media Relations: Bridget Johnson Head of Corporate
Marketing and Communications 847-269-2970 media@wolfspeed.com
Investor Relations: Tyler Gronbach VP, External Affairs
919-407-4820 investorrelations@wolfspeed.com
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