Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has appointed its senior R&D vice president Shang-yi Chiang, senior operation vice president Mark Liu, and senior business development vice president CC Wei as executive vice presidents and cooperating COOs of TSMC.
The three newly appointed COOs, as well as TSMC's finance and legal organizations, will report directly to chairman and CEO Morris Chang. The new organizational structure will take effect on March 5, 2012, TSMC said.
Each of the three COOs is expected to oversee TSMC's overall operations for six months rotatively before the company's board of directors picks a new CEO to succeed Chang, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report.
However, industry sources pointed out that the creation of co-COO positions at TSMC could lead the pure-foundry service company into a new era of common governance after the incumbent CEO Morris Chang retires.
Sources in the equipment supply chain of TSMC pointed out that Chiang, the oldest among the three COOs, seems unlikely to be a contender for CEO, since he is also eager to retire.
Chiang is likely to serve as a mentor or bystander, as the two other COOs engage in a "gentlemen's competition" for the CEO post, the sources commented.
Article translated by Steve Shen
