DURHAM,
NC, DECEMBER 31, 2008 – Cree,
Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) announces that Robert Ingram, Vice Chairman Pharmaceuticals
of GlaxoSmithKline, was elected to the Company’s Board of Directors, and to the
Board’s Compensation Committee and Governance and Nominations Committee,
effective December 29, 2008.
“We
welcome Bob to our Board of Directors,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and
chief executive officer. “His wealth of experience in research-intensive
businesses facing global marketing and manufacturing challenges give him an
ideal foundation to help us address the opportunities Cree anticipates. The
insights he brings should prove beneficial to Cree as we work toward our goal of
replacing traditional lighting solutions with energy-efficient,
environmentally-friendly LED lighting.”
Ingram,
65, has served since January 2003 as Vice Chairman Pharmaceuticals of
GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical research and development company in Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina. 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. He also serves on the boards of directors of
Lowe’s Companies, Inc., Allergan, Inc., and Edwards Lifesciences Corporation,
and also as Chairman of the board of directors of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and
as Lead Director of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.
About
Cree, Inc.
Cree is a
market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors and devices that
enhance the value of solid-state lighting, power and communications products by
significantly increasing their energy performance and efficiency. Key to Cree’s
market advantage is its world-class materials expertise in silicon carbide (SiC)
and gallium nitride (GaN) for chips and packaged devices that can handle more
power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available
technologies, materials and products.
Cree
drives its increased performance technology into multiple applications,
including exciting alternatives in brighter and more-tunable light for general
illumination, backlighting for more-vivid displays, optimized power management
for high-current, switch-mode power supplies and variable-speed motors, and
more-effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications. Cree
customers range from innovative lighting-fixture makers to defense-related
federal agencies.
Cree’s
product families include blue and green LED chips, lighting LEDs, LEDs for
backlighting, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. For
additional product specifications please refer to www.cree.com.
|
Contacts
|
| |
| Media
Inquiries: |
|
Michelle
Murray
|
|
Corporate
Communications
|
|
|
|
(919)
313-5505
|
| (919)
313-5943 (Fax) |
| |
| Investor
Inquiries: |
| Raiford
Garrabrant |
|
Director,
Investor Relations
|
| raiford_garrabrant@cree.com |
| (919)
313-5397 |
| (919)
313-5615
(Fax) |