Technology >> CEO Interviews >> April 15, 2002
KIRK P. POND is President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board, of Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. Mr. Pond has
worked in the semiconductor industry for more than 34 years, initially
serving in various management positions for Texas Instruments and Timex
Corporation before joining Fairchild Semiconductor as Vice President of
the Logic business in 1984. Four years after the acquisition of
Fairchild by National Semiconductor in 1987, he was named President of
the Standard Products Group representing 75% of National's operations.
In 1994 he was named Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
and a member of the Office of the President. In 1996, National chose to
sell its standard product businesses. Mr. Pond recognized an opportunity
to re-launch Fairchild in the pursuit of the underserved multi-market
segment. A year later he executed the first management-led buyout in the
history of the semiconductor industry. Mr. Pond has set the tone for
high growth through new product innovation and strategic acquisitions.
Under his leadership, more than 450 new products are launched each year
and the company has completed seven major acquisitions of international
companies. In August 1999, Fairchild was launched as a public company on
the New York Stock Exchange. He is recognized industry-wide for his
development of the innovative multi-market business model. Mr. Pond
holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas and
a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of
the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as Chairman of the Maine
Science and Technology Foundation and on the boards of the National
Association of Manufacturers, Sybron Chemicals and Sematech, an
international semiconductor consortium. Profile
an update on what has gone on over the past year or so?
Mr. Pond: Fairchild Semiconductor designs, manufactures and
