Silicon Valley veteran joins PowerbyProxi Board of Directors

21 May 2014

Silicon Valley veteran joins PowerbyProxi’s Board of Directors to focus on international growth

The New Zealand based developer of the world’s most advanced and safest wireless power systems, PowerbyProxi (www.powerbyproxi.com), today announced leading Silicon Valley technology executive Dr. Gani Jusuf has been appointed to its board of directors.

Dr. Jusuf serves as Vice President of Engineering for Communications and Consumer Business Group, Marvell Technology Group Limited in Santa Clara, California, U.S.A. Marvell has around 7400 employees in 20 countries and a turnover of $US3.4bn. Dr. Jusuf holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley.

“Our board of directors is delighted Gani has accepted our invitation to join PowerbyProxi’s board,” says Greg Cross, CEO of PowerbyProxi. “As employee number six and a founding core member at Marvell, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and understands the dynamics and opportunities facing a fast-growth engineering company.”

Mr Cross says Jusuf’s background will be invaluable to PowerbyProxi’s continuation as an early innovator and market leader in developing power solutions for consumer electronics devices and industrial applications.

“Gani managed Marvell’s affairs in the U.S, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, India, and in most cases the company grew these markets for its products from scratch. We will draw on his skills and vision as PowerbyProxi’s business continues to grow on the international stage.”

Wireless power is tipped to become ubiquitous with analysts’ projections of a $US15.1billion industry across many sectors*. Focused on two key areas of wireless power, consumer electronics and industrial applications, PowerbyProxi has quickly established itself as a partner of choice for global companies including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, TE Connectivity, Texas Instruments and Linear Technology. PowerbyProxi’s wireless power technologies can work across any standard being used and developed globally.

Cross, who was formerly Chairman of NZTE’s Beachheads programme, was introduced to Jusuf by the Head of the Beachheads programme in North America, Ben Anderson, during the last America’s Cup Challenge in San Francisco. Anderson cites PowerbyProxi as an exemplar of how companies looking to scale globally need to build their international governance and executive leadership capability.

“New Zealand companies are beginning to realise they can play in a world class game. To do so they must bring on international board members,” says Anderson. “During his regular visits to the U.S Greg studied companies which are scaling to grow shareholder value, took inspiration from others, and did everything he could to learn. Gani loves sailing and he began to take an interest in our country. Despite the fact that Gani was in high demand, Greg was able to get him down to New Zealand to look at the business, which has resulted in him joining the board.

*Pike Research forecasting a $15.1billion industry by 2020
“What you’re getting with international board members like Gani is the top people globally participating in scaling New Zealand businesses. Greg has been very diligent and strategic in a competitive international marketplace for talent. Gani is one of the best in the world in the semiconductor industry. With Beachheads I have a huge interest in creating this sort of model,” adds Anderson.

Jusuf assisted PowerbyProxi with the recruitment of Michael Eckert as VP of Engineering. Eckert joined PowerbyProxi from Tracking-Point in February of this year, and brings 18 years’ experience running and growing complex engineering development efforts and product development across multiple locations. Prior to that, Eckert led Motorola’s Silicon Technology development where he was instrumental in the development and commercialisation of Motorola’s mobile WiMAX and later its LTE chipset solutions.

These appointments come as the company continues to grow and looks to execute global expansion plans. PowerbyProxi, which stems from the University of Auckland’s engineering school, intends to set up development centres in Taiwan and the U.S later this year. Jusuf and Eckert’s backgrounds are ideally suited to this new opportunity Cross says.

“Gani is recognised as being one of the most successful hardware technology executives in Silicon Valley. We are excited that he can provide advice and insight as we look build our development centres offshore. Michael brings broad technical and management experience leading large teams in international multi-disciplined R&D efforts. They are ideal complements to our board and senior leadership team as we embark on our next phase of growth.”

Dr. Jusuf believes wireless power technology is still developing and has enormous potential to be a key, game-changing technology for anyone who uses electronics on a day-to-day basis.

“PowerbyProxi has the potential to play a lead role in the consumer space in the cellular phone market. I’m incredibly impressed with the calibre and passion of the PowerbyProxi team and look forward to supporting their continued growth. I will be involved in the set-up of the offshore development centres and the strategy to grow critical mass,” he says.

“Our investment in Research and Development and partnerships with some of the world’s leading companies is delivering industry leading products which are all based on PowerbyProxi’s extensive portfolio of 221 patents and patent applications” Cross says.

“PowerbyProxi’s patent portfolio has broad scope in potentially one of the most valuable future technologies spaces being pursued by any New Zealand company. Our extensive portfolio of patents and patent applications covers many aspects of wireless charging in consumer electronics and industrial applications, from miniaturised implementations used in portable consumer devices and wearable devices through to high power applications such as in wind turbines and process automation.”

PowerbyProxi overview
PowerbyProxi is a leader in advanced, safe, wireless power solutions for consumer electronics (CE) and industrial markets. Resonant technologies deliver a better consumer experience with full spatial freedom and multi-device charging, and solve mission-critical problems in demanding, hostile industrial environments. PowerbyProxi licenses technologies and delivers modules to battery and semiconductor suppliers, OEMs/ODMs and system integrators, with proven highly resonant implementations ranging from less than one watt to multiple kilowatts. PowerbyProxi is a venture-backed company spun out of The University of Auckland – an internationally recognised leader in wireless power innovation – and holds a comprehensive portfolio of 221 patents and patent applications worldwide. For more information visit: www.powerbyproxi.com

ENDS

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