On 24 November, Rector Mark Waer will confer the degree of doctor honoris causa on Willem P. Roelandts. Willem P. Roelandts is the former chair of the Board of Governors and CEO of Xilinx, one of the world's leading businesses in the microelectronics industry. The executive will be awarded the honorary doctorate for his implementation of management and leadership styles that stimulate innovation whilst also prioritising human values in corporate culture.
Xilinx is both a pioneer company and the market leader of a particular type of reprogrammable chip namely field-programmable gate area or FPGA. Xilinx’s turnover tripled under Roelandts’ (1945, Sint-Kwintens-Lennik) management, despite a number of crises in the electronics industry.
Willem P. Roelandts’ success as a Flemish senior executive in the heart of Silicon Valley is remarkable. His unique and personal management style earned him an immense amount of respect from both his colleagues and his employees. In 2008, Roelandts chaired the Semiconductor Industry Association interest group.
The conferment of this honorary degree will take place on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of IMEC. IMEC conducts groundbreaking research and presents high-technological developments in the fields of micro and nanoelectronics. IMEC engages its innovative force in industrial partnerships with ICT, health care and energy industries. Thus, technological solutions are developed that are relevant to these industries. Gilbert Declerck, executive officer of the IMEC research centre in Leuven, will deliver a ‘laudatio’ during the ceremony.
You are hereby cordially invited to the conferment of the honorary doctorate on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 at 5 pm at the University Hall, Naamsestraat 22, Leuven.