Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) announced it will honor Hock Tan, President and CEO of Broadcom, with its prestigious Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award at this year’s Annual Awards Celebration on Dec. 5, 2024.
Established in 1999, the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award stands as the pinnacle of recognition offered by the GSA, celebrating the achievements of prominent and influential figures in the semiconductor industry and its surrounding ecosystem. This prestigious accolade is bestowed upon individuals whose remarkable contributions highlight their visionary insights and global leadership, which have dramatically reshaped and propelled the semiconductor industry forward.
“For decades, Hock Tan has exemplified exceptional leadership and foresight in the semiconductor industry, steering innovation and growth that have redefined Broadcom and the broader tech ecosystem,” said Jodi Shelton, GSA CEO. “His unwavering dedication to operational excellence and his strategic acumen have propelled Broadcom to the forefront of the global market, with a lasting impact on the industry. We are proud to honor Hock with the 2024 Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award, recognizing his extraordinary contributions and continued influence on the future of semiconductors.”
Tan has grown the company over the past two decades to become a leading provider of semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions globally.
“I’m deeply honored to join the list of distinguished industry leaders who have received this award,” Tan said. “Few industries have had as positive an impact on the world as technology and, in particular, the semiconductor sector. I’ve been fortunate to work with the many smart, innovative people who continue to be the source of Broadcom’s success. I’ll accept this award on their behalf.”
After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1975 with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, Tan had a stint as a research engineer with Union Carbide before returning to academia to earn his MBA from Harvard University in 1979.
Tan then took on management roles at General Motors Corp. and PepsiCo. He returned to his home country of Malaysia to become managing director at Hume Industries, before taking on the same role at Pacven Investment, which he co-founded in Singapore.
Tan entered the technology industry in 1992, when he was named vice president of finance at computer manufacturer Commodore International. His move into semiconductors came two years later when Integrated Circuit Systems hired him as a senior vice president and chief financial officer.
In 1999, he was named CEO after heading up a management buyout. The sale of ICS to Integrated Device Technology in 2005 resulted in him becoming the executive chairman.
A year after Avago Technologies was created through a $2.66 billion buyout of Agilent Technologies in 2005, Tan was brought in as president and CEO and embarked on a series of deals that made Avago (later renamed Broadcom) a more dynamic, innovative leader in the semiconductor industry.
Broadcom’s growth under Tan has been both organic and the result of a series of bold acquisitions that advanced competition and innovation in the semiconductor and infrastructure software sectors. The Wall Street Journal once described Tan as “the chip industry’s most visible dealmaker.”
Broadcom closed on its most recent acquisition, the $86 billion deal for cloud-computing company VMware in 2023. It was one of the biggest tie-ups in the history of the technology industry.
While acquisitions have helped fuel Broadcom’s growth, it’s notable that organic growth of the company’s franchises has also been a critical factor. For example, despite the company not making a semiconductor acquisition in more than eight years, its semiconductor business has grown from $17 billion in 2019 to $28 billion in 2023. All that growth has been organic and at a faster rate than the industry as a whole.
The key driver of growth has been the substantial investment in R&D, totaling tens of billions of dollars over the past five years. This investment has paid off in new and better products that are meeting customer needs.
This year’s GSA Awards Celebration stands as the industry’s paramount annual event, attracting the participation of over 1,500 industry leaders. It provides a platform to celebrate the industry’s achievements and recognize the top-performing companies and leaders. Each year, GSA acknowledges companies that have demonstrated excellence through their visionary thinking, strategic acumen, successful execution, and potential for future growth. The celebration applauds the accomplishments of semiconductor companies across diverse categories, encompassing outstanding leadership, financial achievements, and their overall standing within the industry. To register for this year’s celebration, please visit the Awards registration page.
