The Diplomat of Silicon
Ajit Manocha – CEO, SEMI
In the high-stakes world of semiconductors, where supply chains stretch across continents and policies can make or break industries, Ajit Manocha is the bridge that connects it all. As the CEO of SEMI, the global industry association for semiconductor equipment and materials, Manocha represents over 2,500 companies and millions of professionals shaping the future of electronics.
Born in India, Manocha built a formidable career in the U.S. semiconductor industry, leading firms like GlobalFoundries before taking the helm at SEMI. Today, his role is less about designing chips and more about ensuring the ecosystem that makes chips thrives. From advocating workforce development to coordinating global responses to chip shortages, Manocha’s influence reaches boardrooms and ministries alike.
What makes him stand out is his emphasis on collaboration over competition. In an industry often defined by secrecy and rivalry, he argues that the challenges of the future — sustainability, talent shortages, supply resilience — demand collective solutions.
Manocha’s leadership ensures that as the world debates semiconductor sovereignty, there is at least one voice reminding us that silicon is a global story, and progress requires everyone at the table.
