Sally J. Daub - President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Hugh Chow - Chief Operating Officer Indra Laksono - Chief Technology Officer Eric Erdman - Chief Financial Officer Perry Chappell - Vice President, Worldwide Sales David Jones - Vice President, Marketing and Business Development Kris Socha - Vice President, Software Engineering Jim Girardeau - Vice President, Communication and Networking Cheryl Foy - General CounselSally J. Daub has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since co-founding ViXS in 2001.
Under Ms. Daub's leadership ViXS has grown from a small semiconductor start-up to the leading provider of technologies at the heart of today's video revolution by designing and developing smart network multimedia processors that enable anywhere, anytime entertainment. Ms. Daub has consistently been recognized for her entrepreneurial and business expertise and talent, garnering numerous awards, including: Women's Executive Network: Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100; RBC Women of Influence, Trailblazer Category; and PROFIT Magazine.s Top 100 Women Entrepreneur.
An industry advocate, Ms. Daub plays an active role on ITAC (Information Technology Association of Canada) and GSA (Global Semiconductor Association).
Trained as a chemical engineer and lawyer, with degrees from University of Ottawa and Dalhousie respectively, Ms. Daub began her career as a patent attorney both at the law firm Smart & Biggar and Nortel Networks, where she specialized in IP licensing, strategy, development and management. Directly prior to joining ViXS, Ms. Daub served as Vice President & Chief Legal Counsel for ATI Technologies, a graphics chips supplier. Ms. Daub is also a registered patent agent in both Canada and the United States.
Hugh Chow co-founded ViXS in 2001 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to founding ViXS, Mr. Chow held senior management positions in engineering and product development at ATI Technologies Inc. and at Cogency Semiconductor, after having commenced his career at Mosel-Vitelic as an engineer in 1990. Since founding ViXS, Mr. Chow has been instrumental in expanding the company's R&D and operation into Asia, North America and across the globe. Winner of the ACCE International Business Entrepreneur Award in 2007, Mr. Chow has also been featured by Canadian Achievers and Canadian Immigrant for his contribution to the Canadian hi-tech industry. Mr. Chow holds a number of U.S. patents, a Bachelor of Science degree with honour in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hong Kong, and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado. A delegate of the Canadian Trade Mission to Hong Kong in 2002, Mr. Chow continues to contribute to the semiconductor industry and the business community through organizations like IEEE, GSA, ITAC, HKCBA, CCBC and ACCE. He is also a licensed instrument pilot.
Indra Laksono co-founded ViXS in 2001 and currently serves as Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Laksono has held various positions within ViXS, including overseeing Software Engineering, research and development, ASIC architecture and Application Development. Prior to founding ViXS, Mr. Laksono held a number of senior positions at ATI Technologies Inc. Mr. Laksono has filed over 60 patents, primarily in video processing and codecs. Mr. Laksono holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Math, and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from University of Toronto.
Eric Erdman has served as Chief Financial Officer since joining ViXS in November 2007. From April 2005 to November 2007, Mr. Erdman served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Operations at Silicon Optix Inc., a supplier of image processing semiconductors. Prior to joining Silicon Optix, Mr. Erdman held various positions at Genesis Microchip Inc., a supplier of image processing semiconductors for flat-panel monitors, TVs and other consumer display products, including interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, from 1995 to 2004. Mr. Erdman also served on the board of directors of Genesis Microchip from May 2003 until September 2005. Mr. Erdman holds an Honors Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Perry Chappell has served as Vice President, Worldwide Sales since joining ViXS in 2005. Prior to joining ViXS, Mr. Chappell was Vice President and General Manager at Genesis Microchip Inc. from 1996 until 2004. Prior to Genesis, Mr. Chappell held numerous executive, sales and technical positions with IBM Canada. Mr. Chappell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Biology from the University of Guelph.
David Jones has served as Vice President, Marketing and Business Development since September 2009. Prior to then, he served as Vice President, Business Development since joining ViXS in January 2008. Before joining ViXS, Mr. Jones worked at Conexant Systems in a number of senior positions from 1999 to 2008. Prior to Conexant, Mr. Jones worked for Motorola Semiconductors and LSI Logic where he held a number of engineering functions. Mr. Jones is an IET member and holds a Bachelors of Science degree with honors from the University of Herriot-Watt in Scotland in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Kris Socha joined ViXS in 2001 as Manager/Director FAE. He served as Senior Director, Software until 2007 and as Vice President, Software from 2007 until present. Before joining ViXS, Mr. Socha held technical management positions at SilCom Technology, Tinwald Networking, Wandel & Goltermann and Acterna. He holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Gdansk.
Jim Girardeau joined ViXS in 2001 as Director, Systems Designs, Communications and Networking Products. He has served as Vice President, Communications and Networking from 2007 until present. Prior to ViXS, Mr. Girardeau held engineering and management positions with Intel, Level One Communications, Motorola, and Texas Instruments. Mr. Girardeau has been granted over 35 U.S. and worldwide patents, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rice University in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science degree from the University of Texas in Electrical Engineering.
Cheryl Foy is a senior legal adviser with a track record of success in legal department leadership, commercial transactions and corporate governance. With over 15 years of legal experience including 9 years working as the vice president of legal in the semiconductor industry, Cheryl is responsible for overseeing ViXS' legal affairs and managing ViXS' large intellectual property portfolio. Cheryl is actively involved in the in-house legal community and is a digital columnist for Canadian Lawyer In-House Magazine (http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/inhouse-home). Prior to joining ViXS, Cheryl was General Counsel to Carleton University responsible for directing the University's legal function. Until 2009, Cheryl was Vice President and General Counsel to Tundra Semiconductor Corporation where she led the legal department. At Tundra, Cheryl advised the CEO and the Board, successfully closed multiple product and business acquisitions, led corporate governance initiatives, and managed litigation and risk. Prior to Tundra, Cheryl practiced law in Ottawa with a focus on litigation. Cheryl taught employment law at Queen's University School of Law. Cheryl holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Studies, and a Bachelor of Laws, from Queen.s University at Kingston. Cheryl was called to the Ontario Bar in 1995.
