Technology >> CEO Interviews >> March 23, 2000
MITCHELL G. TYSON is President and Chief Executive Officer of PRI
Automation, Inc. He is a 20-year veteran of the semiconductor industry,
joined PRI in 1987 as Vice President of Operations, and was subsequently
promoted to Chief Operating Officer (1990), President (1995) and Chief
Executive Officer (1998). During his tenure, PRI's revenues grew from $4
million in 1987 to over $300 million in 2001. Its product line has also
expanded significantly from just robots in 1987 to integrated, factory-
wide hardware, software and services solutions today. Prior to joining
PRI, Mr. Tyson held a variety of senior positions at GCA Corp., a
manufacturer of semiconductor capital equipment. Prior to GCA, he was a
Science Advisor and Senior Legislative Assistant to US Senator Paul
Tsongas in Washington, DC, where he worked on legislation relating to
industrial and technology policy, the environment and economic
development. An Engineer and Physicist by training, Mr. Tyson is very
active in semiconductor industry consortiums including the North
American Advisory Board of SEMI. He is also a member of the Board of
Directors of the Massachusetts High Technology Council. He holds a BS in
Physics, an MS in Political Science, and an MS in Nuclear Engineering,
all from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Profile
what's gone on and where are you at today?
Mr. Tyson: The semiconductor industry is exploding as the demand for
chips is
