Andrei Berar

Semiconductors back-end specialist.

Probe Cards / Sockets / Testers / Probers / Handlers

Protos Electronics is an manufacturer of electro-mechanical sub-assemblies for the back-end semiconductor industry ($ .6 billion total available market)

Responsible for all Sales Marketing, Applications operations to ramp-up to profitability.

Identified target customers and set-up global representation with focused account plans. Defined market requirements and translate them into new products.

Branding and positioning of the company and our unique products.

Nanonexus is an manufacturer of electro-mechanical self-assembled MEMS products focusing on the Probecard market ($ 1.3 billion total available market)

Responsible for all Marketing, Applications and Assembly & Test operations to establish the strategy initial markets introduction and ramp-up to profitability. Identified target markets and set-up global representation with focused account plans. Defined market requirements and translate them into design and project objective. Responsible for products qualification in US and Asia markets.

Antares Inc. is a provider of test sockets  and thermal contro products for the IC manufacturing indistry ($ 650 Mil total available market)

Responsible for all operations and P & L activities related to the $ 45 Mil business.

Instrumental in working with Investcorp Technology Ventures to purchase the Package Test Business Unit from K & S and spin it out as a private independent company. The new company became profitable in the 1st month after the divesture, with over 10% increase in revenues.

Responsible for all operations leading to $ 35 Mil  P & L of a world wide 250 people organization.

Primary products are Test Sockets / Connectors, Thermal Control products and services.

Managing Sales, Marketing, Applications, Customer Service, Operations, Finance, Engineering and R&D units

Spearheaded major accounts programs that increased revenues by as much as 30% for customers like INTEL, nVidia,, Marvell, Philips, TI, SPIL, ST Microelectronics.  Personally developed senior level contacts at those and other firms to solidify corporate relationships.

Developed strategic business plans to increase the business unit profitability - divested a non-profitable portion of the business, move the operations to China, developed an outsourcing chain in Asia, customized customer's portfolio, introduce revolutionary contacting technologies to the market

Managed acquisitions of new technology, and established its market position

Orchestrated the highest historical revenues level and profit of the business unit in 2H2004.  Grew the serviced available market share to over 20% world wide.

Bolstered the products awareness through aggressive advertising in the trade publications, as well as on the web, e-commerce branding.

Responsible for the operations of the group with revenues over $ 6 million / year.  The group was composed of 70 people, with remote sites in US and Eastern Europe.       

Defined the acquisition strategy and its completion in order to provide the necessary tools for Memory Products Division (MPD) to offer complete testing solutions that meets the memory market requirements. 

Define and delivery of collateral products to the FLASH Memory Tester portfolio:

Responsible for 2nd generation FLASH Memory Tester architecture with respect to production implementation

Managed all aspects of the joint integration with Japanese companies to provide a robust solution for final test that provided the opportunities to penetrate ST Micro final test production as well as large Test & Assy market in Taiwan

VP Systems Integration                                                                                                                                  1997 to 2003

Orchestrate tester integration to meet general and specific customer requirements for production, and provide all the electromechanical parts to support the integration. 

Managed the Value Added Products (10 people) with revenues of $ 15 Mil / year.

Coordinated the M & A activities for the corporation

Published numerous articles regarding the challenges and opportunities for improving the productivity of the back-end process.

VP Work Cell - Technology                                                                                                                            1996 to 1997

Responsible for defining and implement the roadmaps related to optimized implementation in production for all Credence products, in concert with company's mission for Value Added and ZeroFoot print solutions - received 3 individual patents

The WorkCell products were comprehensive electromechanical and software solution for wafer probing and IC package test.

Established joint ventures with Japanese manufacturers.

Responsible for planning, introduction and management of capital equipment accessories for automated wafer probers that generated over $ 25 million in revenues. 

Accessories include electro-mechanical interfaces, automatic probe card changers and manipulators

Coordinate the team efforts to win the first 8" DRAM account in Taiwan that generated over $20 million / year for next three years.

Orchestrate the development of new products related to the system integration.  The system integration focuses on production worthiness related to wafer and final test for high volume production as well as for R&D environments.

Supervised the packaging design and production implementation of a new J990 Memory Test system directed towards high volume production.  First time a system this size / performances developed in US. This product generated over $ 50 million in the first two year after introduction.  Supervised a team of 10 mechanical engineers and designers.

Assumed a leadership role in the design group related to new products design. Activities included manpower planning, budgeting, technical directions and contacts with international customers.  Supervised a group of 15 electro-mechanical engineers, designers and technicians.