Dr Li Liyou, executive vice-president of Unisplendour Corporation Limited, has taken the post of board chairman of Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA), announced by GSA on May 9. 

Dr Li will hold the post from 2016 to 2017. He is GSA's first chairman from Chinese mainland. For GSA, a global alliance, it is a critical step to serve all the key regions in the semiconductor industry's ecosystems. 

The GSA board chairmanship is a coveted position throughout the industry. It is reserved for the most innovative leaders who represent the semiconductor industry's most active global regions.

It is vital to GAS to provide services for Chinese companies to ensure that its global members have access to the industrial opportunities in China.

Dr Li, who is also the chairman of Spreadtrum Communications and RDA Microelectronics, was the board member of GSA's Asia-Pacific region, and has been a member of GSA's Asia-Pacific Leadership Council since 2011. This council acts as an advisor to the GSA board on global and regional issues.  

"I am honored that the GSA Board of Directors has appointed me as their chairman," commented Dr Li, "The industry is constantly evolving and GSA has been instrumental in solving a variety of challenges and promoting cooperation between its member companies and partners. I am looking forward to serving as the chairman to help advance GSA's commitment to support globalization and continue to be the most prominent advocate to expand cooperation and innovation in our dynamic global semiconductor industry."

Dr Li has more than 30 years' experience in the wireless communications industry. He joined Spreadtrum Communications in May, 2008. He was the chief executive of Magicomm Technology Inc, a mobile development company from 2005 to 2007. 

From 1998 to 2002, Dr Li held the posts of general manager of the mobile products division and vice president of Mobilink Telecom, a GSM baseband start-up company which was acquired by Broadcom in 2002.

Dr Li held various senior engineering and program management positions at Rockwell Semiconductors and Ericsson prior to 1998. He is the owner of 19 patents in the field of wireless communication systems and radio frequency integrated circuit systems, circuit design and RFID applications. 

Dr Li obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Science and Technology of China and a master's degree from IECAS. He also holds a PhD in electro-engineering from the University of Maryland and an MBA from National University of La Jolla.

"It is an honor to have Dr Li serve as the chairman of the GSA board of directors," said Jodi Shelton, the president of GSA. "Dr Li is one of the most influential leaders in the semiconductor industry in China and his involvement will be crucial for GSA's future. GSA will greatly benefit from his global perspective and technical expertise, enabling GSA to expand its collaboration between China and the worldwide semiconductor industry."