Technology >> CEO Interviews >> March 23, 2000
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
Silicon Valley Group over the last year to reflect the changes in the
industry?
Mr. Der Torossian: Because we believed in the
