Japanese LED leader Nichia has promoted Taiwan-born executive Tsun-Chia Tai to senior managing director, a move effective October 1 that makes him the highest-ranking Taiwanese manager in the company's history.
The promotion places Tai directly below the president and vice president, where he will oversee operations and strategy for Nichia's core businesses. According to the company, he will also play a pivotal role in board and executive meetings as the firm accelerates its focus on next-generation compound semiconductors.
Strengthening tech ties
Beyond his new role at Nichia, Tai is also the vice chairman of Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor Corporation (TASC). He has been a key figure in integrating Taiwan's supply chain for silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), advanced materials crucial for powering electric vehicles, servers, and green energy solutions.
TASC chairman Li Kuo-Kuang described Tai's promotion as a landmark moment in the evolution of Japanese corporate leadership. He said the advancement of a Taiwanese executive to the post of senior managing director highlights the strong global competitiveness of Taiwan's talent, while also reflecting the continued strengthening of economic ties and mutual trust between Taiwan and Japan.
Expanding into high-power devices
TASC's subsidiary ProAsia Semiconductor specializes in SiC power devices, offering wafer foundry services for products such as Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) and MOSFETs, used in servers, industrial control systems, electric vehicles (EVs), charging stations, solar energy, and energy-storage equipment.
Another subsidiary, Champ-Asia Semiconductor, is focused on GaN power devices. The company has already developed a 650V GaN D-mode platform and expects to complete its E-mode platform in the second half of 2025. These technologies will support applications ranging from EVs and server power supplies to advanced communications equipment.
Article edited by Jack Wu
