Vladimir Dmitriev: 1955-2008
The compound semiconductor industry has lost a popular and high-profile figure with the shock death of Vladimir Dmitriev.
Dmitriev, who was the president and CEO of the novel materials and deposition equipment specialist Technologies and Devices International (TDI), is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack on January 6 while in Japan. He was 52.
A graduate of the Ioffe Institute in Russia, Dmitriev spent more than twenty years developing various epitaxial technologies for LEDs, ultraviolet devices and power electronics components, including spells at Cree and Howard University.
At TDI, he had pursued a vision of developing low-cost deposition equipment to produce high-quality nitride semiconductors, specifically working on the hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) technique.
Former Epichem president Mark Fine, who has recently been working as a business advisor for TDI, said of Dmitriev s untimely passing:
"The loss of our close friend is a shock to all of us. His energy and enthusiasm for this business and life in general was, and always will be, an inspiration to everyone who knew him."
"Though his passing is tragic, we are confident this company will pull together and work even harder to carry on with his vision and keep his dream alive."
In recent weeks, Dmitriev appeared to be getting close to the realization of that dream. According to TDI, the company had just been awarded a key US patent covering the HVPE manufacturing approach. TDI is also expecting to announce a deal with a "major partner" to help introduce this equipment commercially in the near future.
Fine himself and former Emcore CTO Rick Stall will assist TDI as the company works to recover from the loss of its guiding light.
Research director Alexander Usikov will take over Dmitriev s technical role, while managerial responsibilities will switch to Tatiana Dmitriev.
