Month: August 2011
Role: Non-Exec Chairman/ Director
Matthew Trowbridge gained valuable early experience in the role of Chairman at SuperH, the joint venture between Hitachi and ST Microelectronics. The Board of the new Company was to be formed by three people from each parent.
“ST nominated two from France and one from Italy; Hitachi was firmly based in Japan. At the time (2001) I was head of Hitachi's semiconductor business in Europe so belonged to both 'Hitachi' and 'Europe'. I was asked to join the Board as Chairman.
At the start, the CEO was Japanese, the COO French and the CFO American. There were operations in Japan, the US and Europe. Quarterly Board Meetings were rotated between the continents.
Clearly my role was to ensure that the Board operated effectively both at and between Board Meetings, and to connect the Management with the Board. This involved individual and group meetings and calls to understand individual positions and to build a common direction and actions.”
The 18 years that Matthew had already spent in Hitachi provided a strong foundation for this additional role.
“Hitachi had advanced semiconductor technology; Europe is highly innovative in the application of technology. Our role was to bring the two together. One of my first customer meetings in Hitachi in 1984 was with a small company in Finland called Mobira, which became a large company called Nokia. This was the start of a long and successful business relationship, a result repeated in Smart Card, Automotive, and Industrial markets.”
Aligning the goals and actions of highly capable people was a key requirement when Hitachi and Mitsubishi merged their semiconductor businesses in 2003. Matthew led the merger in Europe to form Renesas Technology Europe.
“You may think that merging two Japanese companies would be 'easy' from a cultural view point; we rapidly learnt the differences between the cultures of Tokyo and Osaka – and of two proud companies with their own traditions. On top of that, working across European cultures provided additional challenges.”
Renesas Technology Europe was stronger than the sum of its parts, especially in the Automotive market. But this – and the structural changes in European manufacturing - led to the decision in 2008 to move the European centre to Germany. Matthew enabled the change, supporting the newly-assigned Munich-based CEO as Chairman. He then supported the merger of Renesas Technology with NEC Electronics in Europe before leaving in April 2010 to take up the role of Chairman of VC-backed ProVision Communications.
“Although there were clear differences in scale between Renesas and ProVision, I found the need to align the goals and actions of highly capable individuals similar to my role as CEO of Renesas Technology Europe and as Chairman of SuperH: ensuring the Board was effective, acting as a bridge to shareholders and mentor to the CEO and senior management.”
The assignment came to an end in April 2011 as ProVision became part of a larger Company. He is currently consulting on technology and semiconductor issues and is looking forward to his next Board role.
“Through my experience I have a substantial base of 'know-how' and contacts that provide a wide network of 'know-who'. I also bring substantial 'know-why' - experience underpinned by a solid professional foundation of education and accreditation in three core areas of Engineering, Marketing and Company Direction.”
Matthew is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chartered Marketer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Chartered Director and Member of the Institute of Directors.
He is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors, and Freeman of the City of London.
Matthew is married with three adult children and one grandson.
“As our younger children start their careers, and our new grandson comes up to his first birthday, I feel a strong connection to the next generations.
In the world of business I look to support younger companies and the next generation of management.”
Contact: mgt@mgtsupport.eu
www.mgtsupport.eu
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