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Business News
Leading KLA-Tencor into the 21st Century This past July, KLA-Tencor announced key promotions within its executive management ranks: the appointment of Ken Schroeder to CEO and Gary Dickerson to COO. Ken Levy, formerly CEO has become the company’s chairman, replacing Jon Tompkins who has retired but will continue to serve on KLA-Tencor’s board. These transitions reflect a strategic succession plan developed to ensure optimal leadership for the company in the coming years. Levy noted, “As we continue to grow and expand in keeping with our customers’ changing needs, we are also working to evolve our organization and develop the leaders of the future.” By promoting Schroeder and Dickerson, two longtime company veterans, the company has begun a transition to the next generation of management that will ensure smooth execution of the company’s established strategic direction. Delivering value Schroeder believes in taking a strong customer-value approach in developing and prioritizing corporate goals. “It is our job to understand our customers’ challenges and to deliver the yield management and process control solutions they need to be successful,” he stated. “Our customers must implement accelerated technology roadmaps to remain competitive in today’s global market. In such a fastpaced environment, defect reduction and process control strategies become critical enablers. By facilitating the development and production ramp of new technologies, we can help speed time-to-market and increase fab profitability.”
moving the company towards its goals. Schroeder first joined KLA in 1979 as vice president of operations. After leaving in 1987 to pursue other interests, he returned in 1991 as president and COO, and has played a vital role in the company’s growth from $150 million to more than $1 billion in revenues.
Ken Schroeder, CEO.
Over the past few years, Schroeder has led his team in putting in place engineering, marketing and customer support strategies to foster close customer relationships and enhance rapid technological development. He has placed particular emphasis on cross-company synergies — pushing to combine the company’s hardware, software and expertise into process module control (PMC) solutions tailored to customers’ needs in critical areas such as copper interconnect. As CEO, Schroeder will continue working with KLA-Tencor teams to build on these strengths, as well as seeking new opportunities for growth.
Dickerson has served in a variety of management roles during his 13 years with the company. He ran KLA-Tencor’s single largest division — wafer inspection — and oversaw the formation of the yield management group which united sales, technical support and consulting services. Together with their management team, many of whom are also long-standing employees, Schroeder and Dickerson bring to the company’s leadership a pow- Gary Dickerson, COO. erful combination of long-term perspective, dedication to the customer and vital new energy — all essential assets for KLA-Tencor in the 21st century.
Long-term perspective Both Schroeder and Dickerson have been instrumental in developing the company’s strengths and strategic direction. Their insights and perspectives, acquired over their long tenures at KLA-Tencor, will be invaluable in Autumn 1999
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