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Wolfspeed CEO Gregg Lowe Steps Down; Board Chairman Thomas Werner Takes Interim Leadership Role

Benzinga·11/18/2024 12:07:17
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Wolfspeed (NYSE:WOLF) today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has determined and agreed with Gregg Lowe that he will depart this month from his roles as Wolfspeed's President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board. The Board is conducting a search to identify a permanent CEO with the support of a leading global executive search firm.

The Board has appointed Thomas Werner, Chairman of the Board, as Executive Chairman while the Board works to identify Wolfspeed's next CEO. Mr. Werner will oversee the continued execution of Wolfspeed's strategy in close alignment with Wolfspeed's senior leadership team, the Board and the Board's operations and finance committees. Following Mr. Werner's appointment as Executive Chairman, Board member Stacy Smith was appointed as Lead Independent Director.

"On behalf of the full Board, I would like to thank Gregg for his service and dedication to Wolfspeed," Mr. Werner said. "Since joining the Company as CEO in 2017, Gregg has spearheaded our transition into a leading, pure-play silicon carbide company well-positioned to capture the long-term opportunities ahead. The Board has always been focused on driving long-term value, and at this inflection point in Wolfspeed's journey, the Board agreed that this is the right time for a leadership transition."

Mr. Werner added, "I have started in the role of Executive Chairman to keep Wolfspeed focused on completing key priorities while the Board conducts a search for our next CEO. I look forward to working closely with our highly engaged Board and senior leadership team to oversee day-to-day operations and ensure we continue to provide our customers with high-quality products. As we look ahead, we are firmly committed to our key strategic initiatives, which includes executing against the milestones outlined in our recent CHIPS PMT agreement, completing our restructuring initiatives to lower our break-even point and accelerate our path towards profitability, and delivering sales growth on a consistent basis. Wolfspeed is materially undervalued relative to its strategic value and I will focus on driving the Company's priorities and working with the Finance Committee of the Board to explore options to unlock value."

Mr. Lowe said, "I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead Wolfspeed and work alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues. Over the past seven years, we have transformed Wolfspeed into the only pure-play and vertically integrated silicon carbide operator in the country to capitalize on the structural and long-term demand for next generation semiconductor technology. While there is work still to be done, I have every confidence that Wolfspeed will execute on its strategic priorities and extend its silicon carbide leadership in the years to come."