Press Releases August 27, 2026 04:05 PM

Applied Materials Appoints Akash Palkhiwala to Board of Directors

Applied Materials Strengthens Board with Qualcomm CFO Akash Palkhiwala Appointment

By Caleb Monroe
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AMAT

Applied Materials appoints Akash Palkhiwala, CFO and COO of Qualcomm, to its board of directors and Audit Committee, highlighting his extensive semiconductor finance and operational experience as a boost to the company's growth trajectory.

Applied Materials Appoints Akash Palkhiwala to Board of Directors
AMAT
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Key Points

  • Akash Palkhiwala brings decades of semiconductor industry experience and financial leadership from Qualcomm to Applied Materials' board.
  • The appointment aims to strengthen Applied Materials' governance as it advances in semiconductor materials engineering and AI chip commercialization.
  • Mr. Palkhiwala will also contribute to the Audit Committee, enhancing financial oversight amid expanding operations.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Materials, Inc. today announced the appointment of Akash Palkhiwala to serve on its board of directors. As Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Qualcomm Incorporated, Mr. Palkhiwala brings extensive financial and operational leadership experience in the computing and technology industry. Mr. Palkhiwala has also been appointed to the board’s Audit Committee.

“Akash is a terrific addition to our board of directors,” said Tom Iannotti, Chairman of the Board. “His track record of leadership in finance and decades of experience in the semiconductor industry will add to the strength of Applied Materials’ board and serve us well in our next phase of growth.”

Mr. Palkhiwala has served as Qualcomm’s CFO since 2019 and COO since 2024 and is responsible for the finance organization, global go-to-market teams, semiconductor operations and IT. He has also served in various finance leadership roles since joining Qualcomm in 2001. Previously, Mr. Palkhiwala was a private equity analyst at KeyBank.

Mr. Palkhiwala holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from L.D. College of Engineering in India and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

About Applied Materials
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT) is the leader in materials engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor and advanced display in the world. The technology we create is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation chips. At Applied, we push the boundaries of science and engineering to deliver material innovation that changes the world. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

Contact:
Ricky Gradwohl (editorial/media) 408.235.4676
Mike Sullivan (financial community) 408.986.7977

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6053f01f-c6a8-4f48-8850-1c97770d5a4b


Risks

  • Integration risk of new board member's perspectives in company strategy amid rapidly evolving semiconductor and AI markets.
  • Dependence on continued semiconductor industry growth, which could be affected by global supply chain disruptions or geopolitical tensions.
  • Potential challenges in maintaining competitive edge in advanced materials engineering as technology and market demands evolve.

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