Technology >> CEO Interviews >> March 23, 2000

Papken Der Torossian – Silicon Valley Group Inc (svgi)

PAPKEN DER TOROSSIAN currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer for Silicon Valley Group, Inc. He joined the company in 1984 as President and became CEO in 1986. In 1991, Mr. Der Torossian was appointed SVG's Chairman of the Board. Mr. Der Torossian recently was presented the 1999 EHS Leadership Award from PIBA (Pacific Industrial & Business Association) and SVMG (Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group). Past achievements include serving on the American Electronic Association's (AEA) International Public Affairs Steering Committee from September 1989 to September 1990. He also served on AEA's Board of Directors for three years, and was Chairman of their Silicon Valley Council. From 1990 to 1992, he served as Chairman of Semi/Sematech. Mr. Der Torossian is an active member of the Council on Competitiveness, Center for Corporate Innovation and PECSEA (President's Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration). Mr. Der Torossian is currently on the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group and is also a member of the Democratic Leadership Council and Progressive Policy Institute. He received the 'Ellis Island Medal of Honor' on May 21, 1995, an award honoring individuals who immigrated to the United States and demonstrated outstanding humanitarian excellence as a US citizen. He presently serves on the AEA Bay Area Council Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Bay Shore Lyric Opera (BSLO), a nonprofit organization. He also serves on the Board of the National Conference for Community & Justice (NCCJ), was elected to the Semi/Sematech Board in 1997, is Chairman of the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International Environmental, Health & Safety Committee (SEMI EHS), and is a member of the Santa Clara County Arts Council Board of Trustees. Formerly, Mr. Der Torossian was President of ECS Microsystems and President of the Santa Cruz Division of Plantronics, Inc., where he also served as Vice President of its Telephone Products Group. Prior to that, he spent four years at Spectra- Physics and 12 years with Hewlett-Packard in a variety of management positions. Mr. Der Torossian holds a BSME degree from MIT and an MSME degree from Stanford University. Profile
TWST: Can we start out with an update of what has taken place with

Silicon Valley Group over the last year to reflect the changes in the

industry?

Mr. Der Torossian: Because we believed in the