Dashing the hopes of Microsoft, wireless chip vendor Qualcomm has promoted Steve Mollenkopf as its new CEO.
Software major Microsoft was looking for hiring Steve Mollenkopf, one of the strong pillars of Qualcomm, as its new CEO and replacement of Steve Ballmer.
Microsoft considered him for the top position because of hits technical talent.
Qualcomm on Friday said Mollenkopf’s elevation to CEO from the present position of president and chief operating officer is from 4 March 2014.
The chip vendor says Mollenkopf’s appointment is part of a succession plan.
However, Paul E Jacobs will assume the role of executive chairman on March 4, 2014, helping guide development of new technology and Qualcomm’s long-term opportunities.
As the new CEO of Qualcomm, Mollenkopf will be responsible for all lines of business and all functional groups in the company.
In his nearly 20 years at Qualcomm, Steve Mollenkopf has held a variety of leadership positions including leading the chipset business (QCT), driving innovation and record growth.
Under his leadership, Qualcomm became the world’s largest mobile chipset supplier and the global leader in LTE technology.
Under Mollenkopf, QCT also completed the $3.1 billion acquisition of Atheros, the company’s largest acquisition to date, to accelerate the expansion of Qualcomm’s technologies and platforms beyond cellular.
The departure of Paul E Jacobs, who was the CEO till now, from day to day activities will not impact Qualcomm and its leadership since it built a strong team that focuses on long term growth of the company.
Other senior members of the Qualcomm team include: Derek Aberle, executive vice president, Qualcomm and group president; Cristiano Amon, EVP, Qualcomm Technologies and co-president, Qualcomm Mobile and Computing; George S. Davis, EVP and chief financial officer, Qualcomm; Andrew Gilbert, EVP, European Innovation Development, Qualcomm Europe; Matt Grob, executive VP, Qualcomm Technologies and chief technology officer; Peggy Johnson, EVP, Qualcomm Technologies and president, Global Market Development; James Lederer, EVP, Qualcomm Technologies and general manager, QCT; Murthy Renduchintala, EVP, Qualcomm Technologies and co-president, Qualcomm Mobile and Computing; Donald J. Rosenberg, EVP and corporate secretary, Qualcomm; James H. Thompson, EVP, Engineering, Qualcomm Technologies.
