Technology >> CEO Interviews >> May 10, 2004
ROBERT THERRIEN is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at
Brooks Automation, Inc. In 1989, he engineered and led the leveraged
buyout of Brooks Automation from Fleet Aerospace, thereby co-founding
the then-private Brooks Automation. Since that time, he has built upon
the company's legacy in tool automation and robotic technology,
expanding its product and service portfolio to systemically position
Brooks as a leading global supplier of automation hardware and software
solutions for the semiconductor industry. Prior to Brooks Automation,
Mr. Therrien spent more than 20 years serving as President of several
small high technology companies. He co-founded Ditran Corporation, a
shaft angle encoder maker acquired by Litton Industries. He was also
Chairman, President and co-Founder of Accutest Corporation, a
semiconductor test equipment company, which after 12 years under his
leadership was acquired by Schlumberger. Mr. Therrien began his career
with 12 years' experience in engineering project management roles within
the avionics and aerospace industries, holding positions at North
American Rockwell, General Precision Laboratories and MIT Draper
Laboratory. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Accent
Optical Technologies, Inc., and Advanced Thermal Sciences, Inc. Profile
TWST: Could you begin with a brief overview of Brooks Automation?Mr. Therrien: Brooks Automation is categorized as a semiconductor
capital equipment company. Our core capabilities are in