Foxconn, a major Apple supplier and iPhone assembler, has hired Chiang Shang-yi, a former executive at Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC and Chinese chipmaker SMIC, to lead its growing push in the chip business.
Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics maker, is best known for assembling iPhones and other Apple products, though in recent years it has been expanding into chips to diversify its business.

Foxconn bought a chip plant from Taiwan chipmaker Macronix International last year. Foxconn in September announced a joint venture with India’s Vedanta to set up semiconductor and display production plants there.

Foxconn said in a statement that Chiang had been appointed its semiconductor strategy officer, a newly created role.

Chiang previously worked as vice president of research and development at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker.

He was more recently the vice chairman of Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC), the largest and most advanced chipmaker in China.

Chiang resigned from his position at SMIC last November, roughly a year after joining the company for the second time.

His move to China was controversial given Taiwan’s concern about losing chip talent to its giant neighbour, which has struggled to recreate the island’s success at making semiconductors.