Cree leads the industry in brightness and reliability for power LEDs with its XLamp LED family. Through XLamp LEDs, Cree is enabling the lighting industry with efficient, environmentally friendly LED light.
Cree LED Modules provide a simple solution for lighting designers and manufacturers to adopt best-in-class LED lighting.
World-Leading Manufacturer of SiC-based Semiconductor Materials
Cree’s advantage is in the materials we use. Cree has unparalleled expertise working with two high-performance materials, silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). Find out more about our highly-efficient chips and materials.
Cree's SiC devices deliver the best possible system efficiencies while simplifying thermal design. Find out how you can use Cree power devices to re-invent and revolutionize the power industry.
Cree RF Devices Are Driving High-Power Communications
Cree is a leading supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) wafers and devices for RF communications. When you need best in class performance, look to Cree’s GaN HEMTs and MMICs.
Charles M. Swoboda President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Mr. Swoboda has served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer since June 2001, as President since January 1999, as a member of the Board of Directors since October 2000 and as chairman since April 2005. He was Chief Operating Officer of the Company from 1997 to June 2001 and Vice President for Operations from 1997 to 1999. Prior to his appointment as Vice President for Operations, Mr. Swoboda served as Operations Manager from 1996 to 1997, as General Manager of the Company's former subsidiary, Real Color Displays, Incorporated, from 1994 to 1996 and as LED Product Manager from 1993 to 1994. He was previously employed by Hewlett-Packard Company.
Clyde R. Hosein Director
Mr. Hosein has been a member of the Board of Directors since December 2005. From June 2008 to October 2012, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Marvell Technology Group Ltd., a publicly traded semiconductor provider of high-performance analog, mixed-signal, digital signal processing and embedded microprocessor integrated circuits, and he also served as its Interim Chief Operating Officer and Secretary from October 2008 to March 2010. From 2003 to 2008, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Integrated Device Technology, Inc., a provider of essential mixed-signal semiconductor solutions. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Advanced Interconnect Technologies, a semiconductor assembly and test company. He has also held other senior level financial positions, including the role of Chief Financial Officer at Candescent Technologies, a developer of flat panel display technology. Early in his career he spent 14 years in financial and engineering roles at IBM Corporation.
Mr. Ingram joined the Board of Directors in December 2008 and has served as Lead Independent Director since October 2011. Since January 2010, he has been a General Partner in the firm Hatteras Venture Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage life science companies in the southeast United States, and he has also served as strategic advisor to the chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline plc, a publicly traded pharmaceutical research and development company. From 2003 through 2009, he served as Vice Chairman Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer and President of Pharmaceutical Operations of GlaxoSmithKline following the December 2000 merger of Glaxo Wellcome plc and SmithKline Beecham plc. Prior to the merger he served as Chief Executive Officer of Glaxo Wellcome plc and as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Glaxo Wellcome Inc. Mr. Ingram also serves on the Board of Directors of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and serves as Lead Director of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. and as Chairman of Elan Corporation, plc. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from January 2003 until its sale in June 2010. He previously served as a director of Misys plc, Nortel Networks Corp., Wachovia Corp., Lowe's Companies, Inc., Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. and Allergan, Inc. until 2005, 2006, 2008, May 2011, December 2011 and December 2012 respectively.
Mr. Plastina joined the Board of Directors in December 2007. Since May 2012, he has served as President and Founder of Arc & Company, LLC, an advisory and angel investment firm. He has also served as an Entrepreneur-in-residence with the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina since October 2011. From February 2006 until January 2011 he served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a board member, of Tekelec, a publicly traded provider of telecommunications network systems and software applications. From September 2005 through February 2006 Mr. Plastina served as Executive in Residence at Warburg Pincus LLC, a private equity firm, where he was responsible for evaluating potential investments and providing executive support to portfolio companies. From 2003 to 2005, he held various executive positions with Proxim Corporation, a provider of Wi-Fi and broadband wireless access products, including Executive Chairman, President and CEO. From 1987 until 2002, Mr. Plastina served in a series of management and executive positions with Nortel Networks Corporation, a multi-national telecommunications equipment provider.
Mr. Ruud joined the Board of Directors in August 2011, when the Company acquired Ruud Lighting, Inc., or Ruud Lighting, and also began serving as the Company's Vice Chairman–Lighting at that time. Mr. Ruud is a founder of Ruud Lighting and served in various roles at Ruud Lighting since its founding in 1982, including as its Chief Executive Officer, President and as a member of its Board of Directors. Most recently, and until the acquisition, Mr. Ruud served as the Chief Executive Officer and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ruud Lighting, positions which he held for over a decade. Mr. Ruud also served as the President of Ruud Lighting until November 2009.
Robert L. Tillman Director
Mr. Tillman joined the Board of Directors in October 2010. From November 1994 to January 2005, he served as a director of Lowe's Companies, Inc., as its Chairman from January 1998 to January 2005, and as its President and Chief Executive Officer from August 1996 to January 2005. After his retirement from Lowe's, he served on the Board of Directors of Bank of America Corporation from April 2005 to May 2009, and also served as a member of its Asset Quality and Executive Committees.
Mr. Wagner has served on the Board of Directors since February 2004. Since August 2007, he has served as managing principal of H.A. Wagner Group LLC, an investment and consulting firm. From April 2008 to November 2010, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a board member, of Caregiver Services, Inc., a home care provider. Mr. Wagner previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Quovadx, Inc., a global software and services company, from October 2004 to July 2007, as its Acting President and Chief Executive Officer from May 2004 to October 2004, and as a member of its Board of Directors from April 2004 to July 2007. From 1989 to 1994 he served as Chief Financial Officer at Computervision Corporation and from 1994 to 1998 at Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. From 1998 until joining Quovadx in 2004, he held chief financial officer positions with Premiere Technologies, Inc., PaySys International, Inc., Optio Software, Inc. and Mirant Corporation. Earlier in his career, he spent 18 years in Silicon Valley where he held senior financial positions with GTE Corporation, Fairchild and American Microsystems. He served as a director of StarTek, Inc. from May 2008 to May 2012 and served as a director of FormFactor, Inc. from 2005 to 2010.
Mr. Werner has been a member of the Board of Directors since March 2006. He has served as Chief Executive Officer for SunPower Corporation, a publicly traded manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells and solar panels, since June 2003, and is also a member of its Board of Directors. Prior to SunPower, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Light Machines Corporation, an optical solutions subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, from July 2001 to June 2003. Earlier, Mr. Werner was Vice President and General Manager of the Business Connectivity Group of 3Com Corporation, a network solutions company. He is currently also a director of Silver Spring Networks, Inc., an energy solutions company.
World-Leading Manufacturer of SiC-based Semiconductor Materials
show all
hide all
Mr. Swoboda has served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer since June 2001, as President since January 1999, as a member of the Board of Directors since October 2000 and as chairman since April 2005. He was Chief Operating Officer of the Company from 1997 to June 2001 and Vice President for Operations from 1997 to 1999. Prior to his appointment as Vice President for Operations, Mr. Swoboda served as Operations Manager from 1996 to 1997, as General Manager of the Company's former subsidiary, Real Color Displays, Incorporated, from 1994 to 1996 and as LED Product Manager from 1993 to 1994. He was previously employed by Hewlett-Packard Company.
Mr. Tillman joined the Board of Directors in October 2010. From November 1994 to January 2005, he served as a director of Lowe's Companies, Inc., as its Chairman from January 1998 to January 2005, and as its President and Chief Executive Officer from August 1996 to January 2005. After his retirement from Lowe's, he served on the Board of Directors of Bank of America Corporation from April 2005 to May 2009, and also served as a member of its Asset Quality and Executive Committees.
Mr. Werner has been a member of the Board of Directors since March 2006. He has served as Chief Executive Officer for SunPower Corporation, a publicly traded manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells and solar panels, since June 2003, and is also a member of its Board of Directors. Prior to SunPower, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Light Machines Corporation, an optical solutions subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, from July 2001 to June 2003. Earlier, Mr. Werner was Vice President and General Manager of the Business Connectivity Group of 3Com Corporation, a network solutions company. He is currently also a director of Silver Spring Networks, Inc., an energy solutions company.
