OSRAM (Sunnyvale, CA) has appointed Tom Shottes senior VP of the new Professional Lighting Solid State Lighting and Light Management System groups. He will be succeeded as CEO of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Inc. by Don Klase. Shottes will be responsible for the development, marketing and sale of professional, solid-state lighting (SSL) solutions in North America. By taking this step, Osram is emphasizing the growing importance of semiconductor lighting technologies for the company.
Shottes started his career with Osram Opto Semiconductors in 1998, where, among other positions, he worked in LEDs for automotive lighting. Before becoming president of Osram Opto Semiconductors Inc., he was VP of Sales and Marketing with the company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Rick Leaman, Osram Sylvania’s president and CEO, said, “Tom’s many years of experience in LEDs and deep understanding of the lighting business are a powerful combination.”
Don Klase has worked in the semiconductor industry for 26 years and has held management positions in sales and marketing at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Inc. In 1997, he joined Siemens Microelectronics and later transitioned to OSRAM Opto Semiconductors in 2004. Don last held the post of VP of sales at the OSRAM subsidiary. He holds degrees from the Pennsylvania State University (electrical engineering technology) and Linfield College (management).