Indian American semiconductor executive Dipti Vachani has been appointed CEO of Adeia, the San Jose, California-based technology licensing company. She will take office and join the company’s board on Oct. 12.

Adeia announced the appointment Sept. 28. Vachani will succeed Paul E. Davis, who said in May that he planned to step down. Davis will remain an adviser through the end of the year to support the transition.

Vachani brings 30 years of experience across semiconductors, computer architecture, AI infrastructure and automotive technology. She most recently served as senior vice president and general manager of Arm’s Automotive Business Unit from 2018 to 2026. At Arm, she expanded market-specific intellectual property programs and helped create Arm Total Access and Arm Flexible Access. She also founded the SOAFEE Alliance, which has grown to more than 200 member companies working on software-defined vehicles.

Earlier, Vachani led product management and customer enablement in Intel’s Internet of Things Group. She also held senior positions at Skyworks Solutions and Texas Instruments, where she led the development of the Sitara brand of Arm-based microprocessors.

Born in India and raised largely in Texas, Vachani earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Texas A&M University and an executive MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. She previously served on the board of semiconductor equipment maker Axcelis Technologies and has participated in the Global Semiconductor Association’s Women’s Leadership Council.

Adeia develops and licenses technologies used in semiconductor manufacturing, AI data centers, streaming, e-commerce, consumer electronics and automotive systems. Its portfolio includes more than 14,250 patent assets worldwide, including inventions related to hybrid bonding, 3D interconnects and thermal management.

As CEO, Vachani will guide Adeia’s strategy across semiconductor and media markets while seeking new licensing opportunities and recurring revenue sources. Board Chairman Dan Moloney said her record of connecting research and product roadmaps with new markets distinguished her during the search.

Vachani’s appointment places an Indian American woman at the helm of a Nasdaq-listed U.S. technology company. It also extends a career focused on turning complex semiconductor systems into products and platforms used across major industries.

Key Takeaways About Dipti Vachani

• She will become Adeia’s CEO on Oct. 12.
• She will also join the company’s board.
• She previously led Arm’s automotive business.
• Her semiconductor career spans nearly 30 years.
• She earned degrees from Texas A&M and UT Austin.