DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 31, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq:CREE) announces that Robert Ingram, vice chairman Pharmaceuticals of GlaxoSmithKline, was elected to the Company's Board of Directors, and to the Board's Compensation Committee and Governance and Nominations Committee, effective December 29, 2008.
"We welcome Bob to our Board of Directors," said Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and chief executive officer. "His wealth of experience in research-intensive businesses facing global marketing and manufacturing challenges give him an ideal foundation to help us address the opportunities Cree anticipates. The insights he brings should prove beneficial to Cree as we work toward our goal of replacing traditional lighting solutions with energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting."
Ingram, 65, has served since January 2003 as vice chairman Pharmaceuticals of GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical research and development company in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. He previously served as chief operating officer and president of Pharmaceutical Operations of GlaxoSmithKline following the December 2000 merger of Glaxo Wellcome plc and SmithKline Beecham plc. Prior to the merger, he served as chief executive officer of Glaxo Wellcome plc and as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Glaxo Wellcome Inc. He also serves on the boards of directors of Lowe's Companies, Inc., Allergan, Inc., and Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, and also as chairman of the board of directors of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and as lead director of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.
About Cree, Inc.
Cree is leading the LED lighting revolution and setting the stage to obsolete the incandescent light bulb through the use of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting solutions, and semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications.
Cree's product families include recessed LED down lights, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. Cree solutions are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, backlighting, electronic signs and signals, variable-speed motors, and wireless communications.
For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com.
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