Analog Devices, the second largest player in analog semiconductors, promoted Daniel Leibholz to chief technology officer. He will lead the company's technology strategy as it rolls out radio frequency, signal processing, power management and other products to its end markets. The hiring came as Analog Devices and the rest of the semiconductor industry struggle to shake a prolonged slowdown in demand.
Leibholz stepped up from his position as vice president of the communications business unit at Analog Devices. Sales of chips used in wireless and wired infrastructure have soared over the last year amid the shift to 5G technology, which enhances speed, reliability, capacity and latency compared to current 4G networks. The company's RF chips are key components in building out a new generation of 5G networks.
Before taking over the communications unit, Leibholz led the digital signal processing and consumer technology businesses. He is replacing Peter Real, who was chief technology officer in 2016, when Analog Devices sealed its $14.8 billion deal to buy Linear Technoloy, moving the Norwood, Massachusetts-based vendor deeper into the power management IC market. Leibholz was hired by Analog Devices in 2008.