InterDigital Appoints New Chief Technology Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) announced the appointment of Dr. Rajesh Pankaj as the new Chief Technology Officer, effective July 5, 2022. Dr. Pankaj previously held a significant role at Qualcomm, overseeing research in various technologies, including 5G and AI. He holds extensive experience, having contributed to a large patent portfolio and led innovations such as software for Mars drone Ingenuity. Dr. Henry Tirri will transition to a Senior Advisor role, ensuring a smooth handover. This leadership change is expected to enhance InterDigital's capabilities in wireless and video technologies.

Positive

• Dr. Rajesh Pankaj brings extensive experience from Qualcomm in AI and 5G, enhancing innovation potential at InterDigital.
• The transition to a new CTO is expected to strengthen leadership in emerging technologies, benefiting future projects.

Negative

• Concerns may arise regarding continuity and experience gaps with Dr. Tirri's departure as CTO.

WILMINGTON, Del., June 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC), a mobile and video technology research and development company, today announced that it has appointed industry veteran, Dr. Rajesh Pankaj as its new Chief Technology Officer effective July 5, 2022.   Concurrently, Dr. Henry Tirri will move into the role of Senior Advisor to facilitate an orderly transition.

Dr. Pankaj joins InterDigital from Qualcomm where he most recently served as the Senior Vice President, Engineering and Head of Corporate R&D, managing a global team of engineers focused on Artificial Intelligence, Edge Computing and new technologies. Throughout his 25-year tenure at Qualcomm, Dr. Pankaj oversaw research in 5G, 4G LTE, augmented reality and other technologies, contributing to an industry-leading wireless and mobile computing patent portfolio.  His team developed a software platform for drones that was implemented in Ingenuity, the first vehicle to fly in the atmosphere of Mars. Dr. Pankaj is also a prolific innovator and is an inventor or co-inventor on 230 patents worldwide.

“I am delighted to welcome Rajesh to InterDigital as our new Chief Technology Officer,” Liren Chen, InterDigital President and CEO said. “As a highly experienced and respected innovation leader in cutting edge connected technologies, Rajesh is perfectly placed to take our work in wireless, video, AI and other areas to new heights. I am particularly excited by his experience of working in a variety of industry verticals and horizontal technologies, such as deep learning, that are shaping a new, more immersive era of connectivity.”

Dr. Pankaj will lead InterDigital Research and Innovation (R&I), a global research team regularly recognized as industry leaders for developing advanced wireless and video innovations that have been licensed to billions of connected devices worldwide. A majority of InterDigital’s workforce are engineers, 90% of which are inventors, and InterDigital has exhibited their collective expertise and impact in mobile connectivity, content delivery technologies, and critical emerging technology arenas.

Dr. Pankaj holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree of technology in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Henry Tirri, for his dedication to InterDigital these past four years,” Mr. Chen added. “Henry’s passion and intellect helped guide InterDigital’s technology strategy into important new areas, and we thank him for his leadership of the R&I organization and his contributions to the company at large.”

About InterDigital^®
InterDigital develops mobile and video technologies that are at the core of devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry’s most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks, better video delivery, and richer multimedia experiences years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world’s leading technology companies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on NASDAQ.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com.

InterDigital Contact:
Roya Stephens
Email: roya.stephens@interdigital.com
+1 (202) 349-1714

FAQ

Who is the new Chief Technology Officer of InterDigital?

Dr. Rajesh Pankaj has been appointed as the new Chief Technology Officer effective July 5, 2022.

What was Dr. Pankaj's role before joining InterDigital?

Prior to InterDigital, Dr. Pankaj was the Senior Vice President at Qualcomm, overseeing Engineering and Corporate R&D.

How will Dr. Pankaj's appointment impact InterDigital?

Dr. Pankaj's extensive experience in AI and 5G technologies is expected to elevate InterDigital's innovation and product development efforts.

What is the role of Dr. Henry Tirri after stepping down as CTO?

Dr. Henry Tirri will assume the role of Senior Advisor to facilitate an orderly transition.