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At Immersion, we want to bring the sense of touch to every office,
home, automobile, classroom, and hospital. An ambitious goal like this
requires a diverse team of leaders -- each with the vision, discipline,
and determination to turn ideas into innovations.
Board of Directors
| Mr.
Clent Richardson, President, CEO, and Director
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| Clent Richardson became Immersion’s president,
CEO, and member of the board of directors in April 2008. Prior to
Immersion, Richardson held top-level executive management positions
within leading companies serving the consumer electronics, hardware,
software, technology, and wireless communications industries. He has
over 25 years experience that includes leading several successful
transformations of company brand communication and engagement strategies;
aligning and leading large worldwide teams to higher performance;
and creating, developing, and growing global developer relations programs
to increase both software and hardware adoption. Prior to Immersion,
he was chief marketing officer of TiVo, and earlier, of Nortel. Previously,
he was chief sales and marketing officer and member of the board of
directors of T-Mobile U.K. During his more than five years with Apple,
he reported to the co-founder and CEO as vice president of worldwide
developer relations and worldwide solutions marketing, and earlier,
as senior manager of evangelism. Before Apple, at GTE (now part of
Verizon), Richardson advanced through sales and management positions
over a five year tenure that included P&L responsibility for all
major wireless accounts in California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
in Counseling Psychology from Antioch University. |
Ms. Anne DeGheest, Director
Anne DeGheest joined Immersion’s board of directors on March 1,
2007. DeGheest has served since August 1986 as founder and principal of
MedStars, an investment and executive management firm specializing in
starting and developing new life sciences companies with innovative products
and services, which have included Pyxis, Aspect Medical Systems, Visicu,
Thermage, and Pixel Optics. She also serves on the device screening committee
of Life Science Angels, Inc., an angel investment group focused solely
on biotechnology and medical device companies. From March through November
1998, she was an entrepreneur in residence at Institutional Venture Partners,
a venture capital firm. From November 1998 to September 2002, DeGheest
founded and served as president and chief executive officer of medpool.com,
Inc., an e-commerce hospital procurement company. Previously, she was
vice president of marketing at OmniCell Technologies, a leader in automated
point-of-use management systems for medical supplies, and marketing director
for Nellcor, a manufacturer of pulse oximetry and critical care solutions.
DeGheest also held a sales and marketing management position in Raychem’s
Computer and Telecommunication Division. She has a master’s degree
in general engineering and business from the University of Brussels,
Belgium, and an MBA from Harvard University.
Mr.
John Hodgman, Director
John Hodgman joined Immersion’s board of directors on January 31,
2002. In August 2006, he was appointed senior vice president and CFO
of InterMune, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the research,
development, and commercialization of innovative therapies in pulmonology
and hepatology. From June through October 2005, he was the president
and CEO of Aerogen, Inc., during which time he directed the merger with
Nektar Corporation. In 1994 he joined Cygnus, Inc., a medical company
focused on new and improved glucose monitoring devices, being appointed
president and CEO in 1998. He was appointed chairman of the board in
1999, a position he still holds. He also serves as chairman of the board
of Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals. Hodgman holds a bachelor’s degree
from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Utah.
Ms. Emily Liggett, Director
Emily Liggett joined Immersion’s board of directors on February
27, 2006. From 2004 to May 2007, she served as president and CEO of Apexon,
Inc., a provider of supply performance management software for manufacturers.
From 2002 to 2003, she was interim president and CEO at Capstone Turbine
Corporation. Liggett began a 17-year career with Raychem in 1984 and continued
with Tyco after it acquired Raychem as managing director of Tyco Ventures.
From 1997 to 2000, she was president and CEO of Elo TouchSystems, a Raychem
subsidiary, and from 1995 to 1997, she was division manager of Raychem
Telecommunications and Energy Division. Other positions at Raychem included
sales, marketing, and operations management. Prior to Raychem, Liggett
held positions at McKinsey, DuPont, the European Community, EPFL, and
Bell Labs. She holds an MBA and a master’s degree in Engineering
from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering
from Purdue University.
Mr. Jack Saltich, Lead Independent Director
Jack Saltich joined Immersion's board of directors on January 31, 2002
and became lead independent director in October 2007. Since February 2005,
Saltich has been chairman, of Vitex Systems, Inc., a developer of transparent
ultra-thin barrier films for use in the manufacture of next-generation
flat-panel displays. Prior to Vitex Systems, he served as president and
CEO of Three-Five Systems, Inc., a global provider of electronics manufacturing
services; vice president and general manager of the European Electronics
Center of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; and in various positions with
AMD, commencing in May 1993. Prior to joining AMD, he held a number of
engineering and operations management posts during a 17-year career at
Motorola, culminating in his position as vice president and director of
the company’s Advanced Product Research and Development Laboratory.
Saltich is also a member of the board of directors of Ramtron Corporation,
Leadis Technology, and on the Technical Advisory Board for DuPont Electronic
Materials Business. He received both bachelor's and master's degrees in
electrical engineering from the University of Illinois and completed all
course work for his PhD at Arizona State University.
Mr. Robert Van
Naarden, Director
Rob Van Naarden joined Immersion's board of directors on October 23, 2002.
In October 2007, he created a new private equity fund, BVB Capital Group,
focused on technology and food processing investments, for which he serves
as managing general partner. Previously, from February 2006 to September
2007, he was executive vice president for Verdasys, Inc., an enterprise
software company. From February 2004 to February 2006, Van Naarden served
as the president and chief executive office of Empire Kosher Poultry,
Inc., a chicken and turkey processor in North America. He has also held
numerous executive management positions at emerging hardware and software
companies including AuthentiDate, Sensar, Netframe, FirePower Systems,
Ardent Computer, and Convergent Technologies. Van Naarden holds bachelor’s
degrees in physics and electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh
and master’s degrees in electrical engineering/computer science
from Northeastern University.
Mr.
Victor Viegas, Chairman of the Board
Vic Viegas has served as Immersion’s chairman of the board since
October 31, 2007. He was CEO and member of the board of directors from
October 2002 to April 2008 and president from February 2002 to April 2008.
He was CFO and vice president, Finance from August 1999, when he joined
the company, until February 2005. During his tenure, he brought the company
public, acquired several companies, led the licensing strategy and intellectual
property development, and guided successful patent litigation efforts.
He set the company’s strategy, including its entry into wireless
communications and touchscreen interface markets, and aligned its organizational
structure to support growth across all its businesses. From June 1996
to August 1999, he served as vice president of finance and administration
and CFO of Macrovision Corporation, a developer and licensor of video
and software copy-protection technologies. From October 1986 to June 1996,
he served as vice president of finance and CFO of Balco Incorporated,
a manufacturer of advanced automotive service equipment. He holds a bachelor’s
in accounting and an MBA from Santa Clara University. Viegas is also
a CPA in the state of California.
Corporate Management and Officers
| Mr.
Clent Richardson, President, CEO, and Director |
| Clent Richardson became Immersion’s president,
CEO, and member of the board of directors in April 2008. Prior
to Immersion, Richardson held top-level executive management positions
within leading companies serving the consumer electronics, hardware,
software, technology, and wireless communications industries. He
has over 25 years experience that includes leading several successful
transformations of company brand communication and engagement strategies;
aligning and leading large worldwide teams to higher performance;
and creating, developing, and growing global developer relations
programs to increase both software and hardware adoption. Prior
to Immersion, he was chief marketing officer of TiVo, and earlier,
of Nortel Networks. Previously, he was chief sales and marketing
officer and member of the board of directors of T-Mobile U.K. During
his more than five years with Apple, he reported to the co-founder
and CEO as vice president of worldwide developer relations and
worldwide solutions marketing, and earlier, as senior manager of
evangelism. Before Apple, at GTE (now part of Verizon), Richardson
advanced through sales and management positions over a five year
tenure that included P&L responsibility for all major wireless
accounts in California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling
Psychology from Antioch University. |
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Press bio |
| Mr.
Stephen Ambler, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance |
| Stephen Ambler joined Immersion in February 2005
as CFO and vice president, Finance responsible for finance, operations,
and human resources. From April 2001 to January 2005, he was CFO,
vice president, Finance at Bam! Entertainment where he managed
the company through its IPO process. From October 1997 to March
2001, he was CFO and senior vice president, Finance at Insignia
Solutions, PLC, a NASDAQ-listed company, and from April 1994 to
October 1997, he was their director of finance and administration,
Europe. Over his 27-year career, he has managed business and financial
strategies; tax planning and venture and public funding; and financial
process, controls, and reporting. He holds a diploma in accounting
studies from Oxford Polytechnic in England and is qualified as
a Chartered Accountant in England and Wales. |
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Mr. Daniel J. Chavez, Senior Vice President and General Manager,
Medical Line of Business |
| Dan Chavez is Senior Vice President and General Manager of Immersion's Medical line of business, responsible for developing and managing worldwide business strategy and execution of our healthcare education and curriculum vision. Chavez joined Immersion in August 2008. Prior to Immersion, he consulted with a number of firms in the health care information technology market. His consulting practice focused on business planning, Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) development, strategic alliance development, product management, marketing, proposal development and payer-provider collaboration. Prior to his consulting practice, Chavez's experience includes general management and business development of hardware, software, and consulting products in emerging, fast growth, high technology organizations primarily focused on the health care industry. He has worked for Availity, IBM, GTE, SAIC, Stellcom Technologies, CSC, and CyberPlus, EmSTAT, and CyberView Corporations. Chavez holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from San Jose State University and a master's degree from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. |
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| Ms.
Janice Passarello, Vice President, Human Resources |
| Janice Passarello joined Immersion in July 2007 and
is responsible for all human resources strategies, programs, and
services. Previously, she held human resources management positions
at Harmonic, Microsoft, Trimble Navigation, and Quantum. She has
a bachelor’s degree in social science/human resources management
from California Polytechnic State University and certifications in
several human resources areas. |
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| Ms.
Anne Marie Peters, Vice President, Legal |
| Amie Peters joined Immersion in December 2008. Previously, she was corporate associate, then corporate partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP and diagnostic manufacturing associate, then diagnostic manufacturing supervisor at Chiron Corporation. She has a bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley; an MBA from the University of California Davis Graduate School of Management; and a JD degree from the University of California Davis School of Law. Peters was admitted to the California State Bar in 1999. |
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| Dr.
Christophe Ramstein, Senior Vice President, Research and Engineering |
As Chief Technology Officer at Immersion, Christophe Ramstein leads the company’s global research and development with a focus on haptic innovation, as well as the future of user experience and user value. Passionate about user experience and its virtually unlimited potential, Ramstein, with over 15 years experience in haptics and multimodal technology, promotes Haptics as the cornerstone of the next generation of user interfaces. During his tenure at Immersion, Ramstein has held several positions, including director of software development, vice president of Engineering, and senior vice president of Research and Engineering. Before joining Immersion in 2000, Ramstein co-founded Haptic Technologies Inc, a leading-edge award-winning haptics company, and was also the chief architect. Prior to that, Ramstein was the senior scientist at Industry Canada and created innovative user interfaces for astronauts and the visually-impaired, investigating the use of non-visual modalities, learning schemes, and artificial neural networks. Ramstein is both an author and co-author of numerous haptic patents, as well as a number of papers on haptics and multimodal user interfaces. He holds a Master’s from the Institute Joseph Fourier as well as a PhD in Applied Mathematics for real-time physical modeling, simulation, gesture analysis, and composition for musical creation from the Polytechnic Institute in France.
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Mr.
Craig Vachon, Senior Vice President and General Manager,
Touch Line of Business
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| G. Craig Vachon is Senior Vice President and General
Manager of Immersion’s Touch line of business, responsible for accelerating
deployment and helping achieve ubiquity of Immersion’s haptic
technologies across the mobile, automotive, consumer electronics, gaming, and industrial/commercial markets worldwide. Vachon joined Immersion in
September 2008. Prior to Immersion, he held leadership positions at
major mobile operators, as well as software, services, and technology
licensing companies. Most recently, he was CEO and president of Varatouch
Technology, an intellectual property components and software company
focused on human input devices for hand-held consumer electronics.
Before Varatouch, he was CEO and chairman of Sirenic, Inc., a mobile
information access software company. Earlier in his career, Vachon
was chief operating office of Nextel International Japan; business
development director of AT&T Wireless Services, International;
vice president of sales and marketing of Birla AT&T Communications
in India, and director of new product development, marketing, and
sales of AT&T Wireless Services (formerly McCaw Cellular). He
holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s
degree in Business Communication, both from Emerson College. |
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