Jim Gentilcore has served as our CEO since March 2013, prior to which he had been an independent non-executive director on our board of directors since December 2007.  He has significant experience in growing technology companies, mergers and acquisitions in the public and private sector and post-merger integration and brings 30 years of technology industry leadership to our board of directors. From January 2009 to March 2011, Jim was the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of EPAC Technologies Inc., a leader in supply chain automation for the book publishing industry. Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Helix Technology Corporation, and led its strategic merger with Brooks Automation Inc. (‘‘Brooks’’) in 2005, where he continued as Chief Operating Officer of the combined company. After the integration of Brooks and Helix Technology Corporation, he led the company’s acquisition of Synetics Solutions Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of a large Japanese Automation company and then spearheaded a Japanese based joint venture with that company. His global experience includes several Asian based joint ventures and acquisitions and many U.S. based technology acquisitions. Jim holds an M.B.A. from Lehigh University and a B.Sc. in Engineering from Drexel University.

David Smith has been our Chief Financial Officer since July 2010 and has served on our board of directors since July 2010. Mr. Smith worked for over 25 years in the automotive industry at Ford and Jaguar Land Rover. He was a key member of the management team that transformed Jaguar Land Rover over the last decade into a global premium automotive company. In his last two years as Chief Executive Officer, he led the company through a challenging transition from Ford to Tata ownership.
Prior to his Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer role, he was the Senior Finance Executive for Ford in Europe as well as a Director of Volvo and Aston Martin. Before that, Mr. Smith was the Chief Financial Officer of Jaguar Land Rover. During his career he worked for Ford in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United States and Turkey. He also worked on many projects in Asia. Mr. Smith holds an M.A. in Economics from Cambridge University and an M.B.A. from Warwick University. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and is a Fellow for the Royal Society for Arts. He is also a Hon D.Sc. from Aston University, a non-executive director of Motability Operations Group plc and a Trustee of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

Sia Abbaszadeh has served as our Chief Marketing & Technology Officer since June 2010. Mr. Abbaszadeh joined us in November 1989 to lead new product development programs in Semiconductor vacuum pumping. He has subsequently built a broad base of new product introduction capability for all the product and application sectors within Edwards. His responsibilities have included delivery of strategic growth plans by leading new product and technology development for the Semiconductor, FPD and Emerging Technologies market sectors. Recent responsibilities have included leading our Solar PV business growth program and doubling our footprint within the sector. Mr Abbaszadeh holds a Post Graduate Diploma in NonDestructive Testing from Brunel University and an M.Sc. in Project Management from Brighton University.

Mike Allison has served as our Sales Director since March 2008. Mr. Allison currently holds an advisory board position with the European Semiconductor Manufacturers’ Association and prior to joining us, Mr. Allison was with KLA-Tencor since 1988, a leading equipment maker within the Semiconductor industry where he held various positions such as the Executive V.P. of Global Services,
General Manager of European Sales, Technical Director and various sales and marketing positions.
Mr. Allison graduated with an Hons. Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Glasgow.

Steve Goldspring joined us in February 2012 as Global Service Director responsible for delivering our service strategy. Prior to joining Edwards, Mr. Goldspring worked for more than 27 years at Honeywell Limited in a number of different international roles, including leadership of both its Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East, Africa and India Service businesses. Mr. Goldspring has a Master of Business and Technology from the University of New South Wales.

Chris Shepherd has served as our Group HR Director since May 2012 and is globally responsible for delivering our people and organisational strategy. Prior to joining us, Mr. Shepherd worked for more than 22 years at Mars Incorporated in a number of different international roles in Europe, Singapore and China, including Vice President Human Resources for Mars Chocolate in continental Europe.  Mr. Shepherd has a Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Liverpool.

John Woodburn was appointed as our Operations Director in February 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Woodburn worked for Volex, a global manufacturer of high-quality electrical and optical connection solutions with end uses including iPads, iPods, and flat panel T.V.s. Whilst at Volex he had overall responsibility for operations and supply chain across its ten manufacturing units worldwide.  Prior to Volex, he spent nine years at the electronics manufacturing services provider, Jabil, ultimately responsible for worldwide operations for their newly created Consumer Division where his role included developing a significant manufacturing capability across Asia. He has over 30 years manufacturing experience with leading technical and engineering businesses, having spent his early career at Lucas Industries and Motorola.  Mr. Woodburn was also Senior Industrial Research Fellow at Cambridge University and holds an M.B.A. and a B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering.