News Article
Cree restructures senior positions
The LED innovator has appointed Anne Whitaker to its Board of Directors and has taken on Norbert Hiller Executive VP, Lighting
Cree has announced that Anne Whitaker, President, North American Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi S.A., has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors, which became effective on December 2nd, 2013.
“We’re extremely pleased that Anne is joining our Board of Directors,” comments Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. “Anne has proven herself to be a leader throughout her career and her extensive experience in strategic management and organisational development will be a tremendous asset to our company as we continue to carry out our mission to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting.”
Whitaker joined Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, in September 2011. In her current role she oversees Sanofi’s operations within North America, and serves as a member of its Global Leadership Team and the U.S. Regional Strategic Management Committee.
A graduate of the University of North Alabama with more than 20 years of experience, Whitaker began her career as a metabolic disease specialist with Upjohn Company. From there she joined GlaxoSmithKline as a sales representative.
After holding various leadership positions in GlaxoSmithKline’s commercial organisation, in 2007 Whitaker became Vice President of Critical and Supportive Care before being appointed Senior Vice President of Leadership and Organisation Development from 2008 to 2009.
In 2009, Whitaker became Senior Vice President and Business Unit Head, Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Urology (CVMU) at GlaxoSmithKline, where she had full commercial responsibility for leading, developing and managing strategic performance of the CVMU business.
The company has also appointed Norbert Hiller as Executive Vice President Lighting, effective immediately. Hiller brings more than two decades of commercial and operational LED lighting leadership to his new role. Hiller has served as Cree’s Executive Vice President LEDs since October 2011.
“Cree has become the industry leader in LED lighting over the last several years and we remain focused on our goal of 100 percent adoption of LED lighting,” says Cree CEO, Swoboda. "The growth in our LED fixture business combined with the success of the Cree LED Bulb has expanded the scale of our lighting business and increased the focus on sales and marketing. Norbert brings a unique skill set and track record of success to the next phase of Cree's growth.”
Concurrent with Hiller’s appointment, Dave Emerson will move into the role of Vice President & General Manager for LEDs. In addition, Ty Mitchell, formerly the Executive Vice President Lighting since October 2011, will assume the role of Vice President Lighting Operations.
“We’re extremely pleased that Anne is joining our Board of Directors,” comments Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. “Anne has proven herself to be a leader throughout her career and her extensive experience in strategic management and organisational development will be a tremendous asset to our company as we continue to carry out our mission to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting.”
Whitaker joined Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, in September 2011. In her current role she oversees Sanofi’s operations within North America, and serves as a member of its Global Leadership Team and the U.S. Regional Strategic Management Committee.
A graduate of the University of North Alabama with more than 20 years of experience, Whitaker began her career as a metabolic disease specialist with Upjohn Company. From there she joined GlaxoSmithKline as a sales representative.
After holding various leadership positions in GlaxoSmithKline’s commercial organisation, in 2007 Whitaker became Vice President of Critical and Supportive Care before being appointed Senior Vice President of Leadership and Organisation Development from 2008 to 2009.
In 2009, Whitaker became Senior Vice President and Business Unit Head, Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Urology (CVMU) at GlaxoSmithKline, where she had full commercial responsibility for leading, developing and managing strategic performance of the CVMU business.
The company has also appointed Norbert Hiller as Executive Vice President Lighting, effective immediately. Hiller brings more than two decades of commercial and operational LED lighting leadership to his new role. Hiller has served as Cree’s Executive Vice President LEDs since October 2011.
“Cree has become the industry leader in LED lighting over the last several years and we remain focused on our goal of 100 percent adoption of LED lighting,” says Cree CEO, Swoboda. "The growth in our LED fixture business combined with the success of the Cree LED Bulb has expanded the scale of our lighting business and increased the focus on sales and marketing. Norbert brings a unique skill set and track record of success to the next phase of Cree's growth.”
Concurrent with Hiller’s appointment, Dave Emerson will move into the role of Vice President & General Manager for LEDs. In addition, Ty Mitchell, formerly the Executive Vice President Lighting since October 2011, will assume the role of Vice President Lighting Operations.
