Conexant Systems Inc.’s Dwight Decker is kicking off his semi-retirement with a side gig.
Decker, who recently turned over the chief executive title at Newport Beach-based chipmaker Conexant, is set to head the Fabless Semiconductor Association, a Dallas-based trade group.
He previously was the association’s vice chairman and is set to take over for Sanjay Jha, who was chairman for the past three years.
Jha, who will become vice chairman of the association, is chief operating officer of San Diego-based chipmaker Qualcomm Inc.
The association’s goal is to promote the “fabless” business model, where chipmakers don’t run their own production plant, known as a fabrication facility.
Decker has been member of the association’s board for six years and was vice chairman since 2004.
Conexant picked a new chief executive last month. Daniel Artusi, formerly head of privately held ColdWatt Inc. of Austin, Texas, started at Conexant a week ago.
Decker remains chairman.
This is Decker’s second go at stepping back after he returned to the company in 2004 to help turn it around after a tough acquisition.
Decker, 57, has led Conexant for nearly all of its life since spinning off from what’s now Rockwell International Corp. in 1999.
