Nohik Semel Named CEO of Altair Semiconductor

According to a recent announcement, Altair Semiconductor, a provider of cellular IoT chipsets, is appointing Nohik Semel, currently VP, System Engineering and Product Management, as the new CEO. He will replace outgoing co-founder and CEO Oded Melamed, who reportedly is leaving to pursue a new startup opportunity. The appointment will be effective on November 18, 2019.

Semel joined Altair in the very beginning and has spent the last 14 years in different executive positions. He is credited with the development of Altair’s LTE product portfolio, which power millions of LTE connected devices around the world. His accomplishments include developing the ALT1250 integrated chipset and the ALT1160 CAT-1 IoT chipset, according to the release.

“We wish Oded the best of luck and expect to see sensational developments from his next project,” said Semel. “With the support of our parent company Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Altair has never been as strong as it is today. As we move forward, I am excited to usher in the next chapter of Altair, where we will see new technologies come together to advance today’s connected world.”

Altair’s product line, led by the cellular IoT ALT1250 chipset, has seen widespread adoption, and the company says its expectation for explosive growth has been bolstered by increased collaborations and operator validations. Under Semel’s leadership, the company roadmap will introduce technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning into future iterations of the chipsets, and be compatible with leading 5G networks.

Oded Melamed, who co-founded the company in 2005, has led Altair Semiconductor from its inception. Altair Semiconductor was acquired by Sony in 2016.