Dr. Aart de Geus co-founded Synopsys in 1986 and led the company for more than 35 years, serving as CEO from 1994 to 2024. Widely regarded as a pioneer in electronic design automation (EDA), Dr. de Geus brings deep knowledge of the Company s technology, business and culture, as well as the semiconductor industry more broadly. Under his leadership, Synopsys drove the creation and commercialization of logic synthesis, which transformed CAD (computer-aided design) into EDA and automated decades of scaling in digital complexity, generally referred to as "Moore s Law." Building on the technical and economic success of synthesis, Dr. de Geus expanded Synopsys product portfolio and growing global market position through sustained R&D investment and ~120 acquisitions. His vision, strategic leadership, and long-standing customer and industry relationships established Synopsys as the leader in EDA and a cornerstone ecosystem company used prolifically on advanced digital chips globally. Beyond his executive leadership, Dr. de Geus is recognized as a catalytic industry voice known for articulating the evolution of technology and the future of semiconductor design. Dr. de Geus also established the Synopsys Foundation in 1999, which advances initiatives such as project-based science and math education in Silicon Valley, and he is a proactive voice for corporate engagement in the community. Career Highlights Synopsys Founding President of Optimal Solutions, Inc. (1986), renamed to Synopsys (1987) CEO / Co-CEO (1994-2024) Various roles, including President, COO and SVP of Engineering and Marketing (1986-1994) General Electric Various roles, culminating in Manager of the Advanced Computer-Aided Engineering Group (1982-1986) Board Experience Applied Materials (since 2007) Industry Leadership and Recognition 2024 Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) Robert N. Noyce Award 2009 Global Semiconductor Association (GSA) Morris Exemplary Leadership Award 2008 Electronic System Design Automation (ESDA) Phil Kaufman Award 2007 Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) Spirit of the Valley Lifetime Achievement Award 2007 IEEE Robert Noyce Medal